Beef kill: Weekly factory supplies continue to trend above last year
Weekly factory cattle supplies are continuing to trend above last year.
Despite this, the overall cattle kill-to-date this year remains below 2025, but that deficit is narrowing.
The first half of 2026 saw supplies generally trend below 2025 supply levels but weekly supplies have been stronger than last year since July of this year.
This week (Monday, September 21) has seen more activity from factory procurement staff seeking cattle to fill out kill sheets.
The graph below illustrates how weekly factory cattle supplies have been comparing to last year:
Current indications would suggest demand for beef is remaining buoyant and a look at the official factory price data on Agriland shows that prices paid have been edging up since mid-August.
Just over 32,900 cattle were slaughtered at Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)-approved factories in the week ending Sunday (September 20), up 3,400 head or 11.7% on the same week of last year.
The table below details weekly beef kill numbers in the week ending Sunday, September 20, versus the same week of last year, the cumulative beef kill-to-date this year versus the same week of last year, as well as the change in numbers and percentage changes:
| Animal Type | Week ending Sun, September 20 | Same week last year | Change | Cumulative 2026 | Cumulative 2025 | Cumulative Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | 480 | 435 | +45 (+10.3%) | 19,156 | 18,413 | +743 (+4.0%) |
| Cows | 6,780 | 5,856 | +924 (+15.8%) | 250,397 | 262,178 | -11,781 (-4.5%) |
| Heifers | 9,291 | 8,441 | +850 (+10.1%) | 349,892 | 368,144 | -18,252 (-5.0%) |
| Steers | 14,807 | 13,698 | +1,109 (+8.1%) | 446,486 | 451,250 | -4,764 (-1.1%) |
| Young Bulls | 1,576 | 1,066 | +510 (+47.8%) | 81,312 | 80,995 | +317 (+0.4%) |
| Total | 32,934 | 29,496 | +3,438 (+11.7%) | 1,147,243 | 1,180,980 | -33,737 (-2.9%) |
The cumulative kill-to-date this year is still running almost 34,000 head or 2.9% below last year, but this supply deficit is narrowing on a weekly basis.
The largest supply drop this year has been in the heifer kill with supplies down by over 18,000 head or 5%, while the steer kill is down by a less severe 4,700 head or 1.1%.
Demand for beef does appear to have pushed on in recent weeks which is good news for the farmers selling cattle coming off grass this autumn.
However, it is leaving market dynamics shaping up to be more tricky for winter beef finishers again this year, coming on top of the challenging year they also had in 2025.
