Cattle and lamb slaughter numbers are through the roof for early 2025, with producers selling off livestock amid tough conditions from drought to floods around the country.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed cattle slaughter was up to 2.2 million in the first quarter of the year, up 20 per cent for the same time in 2024.

It was the largest quarterly cattle slaughter in Victoria since 1979, and the largest since 2015 in New South Wales.

In South Australia, where drought conditions are hitting hard, slaughter numbers rose 16 per cent to the highest level since 2017.

Crucially, the slaughter of female cattle rose to 52.7 per cent of the total, particularly in South Australia and Victoria, indicating producers are unable to maintain their current levels of breeding stock.

But MLA market information manager Stephen Bignell this is not indicative of widespread herd liquidation across the country.

“The elevated female slaughter rate reflects regional responses to seasonal pressures, particularly in the south where a prolonged and expanding drought is impacting numbers,” Bignell said.

“While some areas are destocking, others are benefiting from improved conditions and holding onto stock.

“This is most evident in Queensland where generally good conditions are resulting in stock retention and even herd growth.”

Beef production rose three per cent during the quarter to 679,000 tonnes, with South Australia recording the highest growth of 16 per cent.

Meanwhile, lamb slaughter for the quarter was the second highest level on record, at 6.86 million head.

Victoria alone was responsible for more than half that number with 3.83 million lambs slaughtered, followed by NSW at 1.48 million – a 27 per cent increase.

Sheep slaughter, however, was down 14 per cent on the previous quarter, though still seven per cent higher than this time last year.

Sheep and lamb slaughter across the country for the quarter reaped $1.58 billion in gross value.