How rainfall is influencing cattle movement across the country

AuctionsPlus combines year-to-date rainfall data with cattle movement trends to show how regions across Australia are performing. The dashboard tracks rainfall across more than 1,000 towns and market activity from over 250 livestock regions nationwide, providing a clear snapshot of seasonal conditions and cattle movement trends across the country. 

The Rainfall Tracker is painting a clear picture of just how variable conditions have been across Australia so far in 2025, with many eastern and southern districts swinging sharply between wet and dry months. The year-to-date decile view shows widespread below-average rainfall through large parts of NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, while pockets of inland Queensland and northern regions have fared considerably better. The town pin view highlights just how localised these patterns have been, with neighbouring districts often recording very different seasonal outcomes. Producers can explore their own district and compare conditions using the tracker’s town-level data and monthly breakdowns.

January started the year on the dry side across much of southern Australia, particularly through Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, while parts of coastal NSW and inland Queensland recorded stronger rainfall activity. Conditions shifted noticeably in February and March, with many southern regions improving and widespread above-average rainfall appearing across Victoria, Tasmania and parts of southern New South Wales. At the same time, some northern and central districts became drier, reinforcing the uneven spread of rainfall across the country.

By April and May, conditions had turned sharply again. Large areas of eastern Australia, particularly through NSW and southern Queensland, slipped back into below-average rainfall territory, with the town pins showing persistent dry conditions across many livestock-producing regions. While some isolated districts recorded useful falls, the broader trend through late autumn remained drier than average. The Rainfall Tracker allows producers to drill down into these monthly movements and see exactly how rainfall patterns have tracked in their own area throughout the season so far.

The dry start to the season has triggered a sharp lift in cattle turnoff across Northern NSW in recent weeks, with many of those finding their way into South West Victoria and other stronger rainfall regions further south. But the Livestock Flow & Rainfall Tracker shows there’s more happening beneath the surface than just a north-to-south movement of stock.

Across the 150 towns currently tracked, 89 are sitting as net selling regions. Unsurprisingly, many of the strongest selling signals are concentrated through Northern NSW and parts of southern Queensland, where rainfall deficits have tightened feed availability and pushed producers into the market earlier than usual. The rainfall overlay reinforces that trend, with most heavy selling regions also sitting below average rainfall year-to-date.

On the flip side, 61 towns are currently net buyers between January and April. South West Victoria stands out as one of the strongest buying regions nationally, supported by comparatively stronger seasonal conditions earlier in the year. Parts of South Australia and isolated Queensland regions are also showing consistent buying activity, particularly in districts that managed to hold onto better moisture profiles through summer and early autumn.

One of the more interesting takeaways from the tracker is just how localised conditions remain. Even within broadly dry states, there are still pockets of active buying where producers have confidence in feed reserves or recent rainfall. Likewise, not every dry region is heavily destocking. The town-level view makes those regional differences much clearer and gives producers a chance to compare how surrounding districts are responding to seasonal pressure.

The tracker is designed to be explored town-by-town, with filters for rainfall, listings, purchases and net flow trends. Have a play around and see how your region is tracking - who’s selling, who’s buying, and how rainfall is influencing livestock movement across the country.