# Heavy rain tightens northern livestock supply while restocker prices surge

> Widespread rainfall restricted cattle availability in northern Australia in October, with Queensland’s Cattle Yarding Index falling from 85% in September to 29% in October. Restocker and feedlot competition strengthened cattle prices, while saleyard activity increased in South Australia and Victoria and slaughter activity varied across states.

- Date: 2026-11-06 · published 2026-11-06T03:07:02.109Z
- Category: weather · region Australia · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/83207-heavy-rain-tightens-northern-livestock-supply-while-restocker-prices-surge
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Rain-disrupted movements and fewer northern cattle offerings tighten nearby supply, while stronger restocker and feedlot competition supports prices. Reduced slaughter in some regions may also constrain beef availability.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2022-11-13 | [All Drought, No Cattle: Low herd supply may drive record-high prices next year](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38615-all-drought-no-cattle-low-herd-supply-may-drive-record-high-prices-next-year.md) | +0.8% | +2.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-03-30 | [U.S. livestock: CME live cattle set contract high as cash prices jump - Grainews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10373-u-s-livestock-cme-live-cattle-set-contract-high-as-cash-prices-jump-grainews.md) | +2.1% | +7.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-29 | [Hog futures firm on heat-driven supply tightening - CME
						 \| The Pig Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18486-hog-futures-firm-on-heat-driven-supply-tightening-cme-the-pig-site.md) | +1.5% | -3.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-03-24 | [Record prices, farm debts make it hard for livestock producers to rebuild herd - ABC News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54067-record-prices-farm-debts-make-it-hard-for-livestock-producers-to-rebuild-herd.md) | +2.9% | -8.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-05-29 | [Feeder Cattle Prices Supported by Tight Supplies and Excellent Demand](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5225-feeder-cattle-prices-supported-by-tight-supplies-and-excellent-demand.md) | +3.5% | +5.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-11-13 | [All Drought, No Cattle: Low herd supply may drive record-high prices next year](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38615-all-drought-no-cattle-low-herd-supply-may-drive-record-high-prices-next-year.md) | +2.2% | +3.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-03-30 | [U.S. livestock: CME live cattle set contract high as cash prices jump - Grainews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10373-u-s-livestock-cme-live-cattle-set-contract-high-as-cash-prices-jump-grainews.md) | +3.3% | +5.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2020-11-05 | [Domestic paddock feeder prices at record highs \| Meat & Livestock Australia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7935-domestic-paddock-feeder-prices-at-record-highs-meat-and-livestock-australia.md) | +2.1% | +1.5% |

## Sources

- farmonline.com.au: https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/9384469/australian-beef-processors-face-squeeze-as-cattle-prices-soar/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.