Strong demand and big numbers places NSW on top in FY25

Our State of the Market Report tracks livestock trends across every state in FY2025, analysing throughput, regional strengths, price indicators and top sales to show how each market performs locally and nationally. This week, we turn to New South Wales, the powerhouse of Australia’s online livestock trade. NSW’s FY2025 performance on AuctionsPlus was defined by dominant throughput, strong prices, and consistent supply from leading production regions including the Central West, Riverina, and Slopes and Plains. 

NSW has cemented its place at the heart of Australia’s online livestock marketplace, accounting for nearly half of all AuctionsPlus throughput in FY25, representing 49.7% of the national throughput. 

The state not only dominated in volume, but also maintained the strongest market indicators nationally. NSW recorded the highest average AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator (AYCI) at 394c/kg liveweight, ahead of Victoria’s 387c/kg and Queensland’s 372 c/kg. This strength extended to carcase weight and per-head value, where NSW also led the nation, averaging about $1,197/head across its sales.

Commercial cattle highlights

Cattle trading in NSW continued to dominate AuctionsPlus activity with strong restocker confidence and consistent supply across the state’s mixed-farming regions. Feeder weight steers and heifers remained the most active classes, with steers 280–330kg achieving an average of $1,265/head over FY2025 and topping at $1,614/head for a line of pure Angus steers.

88 Weaned Steers that were sold for $1,614/head (490c/kg LW). Pic: Supplied via AuctionsPlus

Offered by Mulgoa Pastoral, Holbrook, NSW, and assessed by David Benson, the pure Angus steers aged eight to nine months old, averaged 329kg, and were described as 'Pure Rennylea Blood'. 

Heifers in the same weight range reached a top of $3,100/head for a line of three purebred British White heifers, offered by Laylee Holdings PTY LTD in Illawarra, NSW. Meanwhile, the average price for heifers weighing 280-330kg returned $1,067/head over the year, reflecting both quality breeding stock and strong competition from replacement buyers.

Three non-station mated Future Breeders that fetched $3,100/head. Pic: Supplied via AuctionsPlus

Regionally, cattle throughput was led by the Central West (20%) and Riverina (18%), followed closely by the N.W. Slopes & Plains (17%) and Northern Tablelands (17%), highlighting the dominance of these highly productive grazing areas.

Commercial sheep highlights

NSW also led national sheep trading, representing just over half of Australia’s total AuctionsPlus sheep throughput.

The Central West (34%) and Riverina (30.5%) were again the major supply hubs, together accounting for almost two-thirds of the state’s listings, while Western NSW and the Monaro added significant volume.

The most traded category was Crossbred Lambs, achieving an average of $133/head and peaking at $230/head, driven by strong restocker and processor demand.

The ARLI (AuctionsPlus Restocker Lamb Indicator) for NSW peaked on August 10, 2024, reaching 1,085c/kg dressed weight. At the time, the average liveweight for the indicator was 31kg, reflecting strong restocker competition early in the financial year. This situated NSW behind South Australia (1,185c/kg) and Victoria (1,157c/kg), and just ahead of Queensland (1,082c/kg).