SALEYARDS across the eastern states have had a busy start to 2026, with prices dipping slightly in the past week and heatwave conditions appearing to have an impact on the market. Weekly slaughter numbers are slightly up on this time last year, with 143,000 head killed this week, compared to 140,000 in the same week last year. National yardings for January are slightly down on last year, with a heatwave impacted yarding this week largely credited for that reduction. Big yardings finish 2025The busy start to the year in Australian saleyards has come after a big yarding in December last year. All the main saleyard indicators have started 2026 at a similar level to what they were last year, with a rise in the past week followed by a slight dip this week.