Overall, slaughter figures were down across the board, mainly thanks to Queensland and NSW, as Victorian figures increased for cattle.
There was a 2 per cent drop in cattle rates, and 3pc in sheep and lamb slaughter.
Victorian processors were responsible for an 11pc increase in cattle slaughter.
For the first time in many months, male cattle outnumbered female cattle in the NSW figures.
Cattle slaughter across all of the eastern states was 135,142, while Victoria contributed 26,661 head, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s weekly slaughter report.
Victorian sheep processors slaughtered 207,209 lambs out of the total 372,257, which was a 2pc decline.
Sheep slaughter in Victoria was 71,000 head, which was down 7pc, with the other two major states both seeing increases.
The cattle figures tend to contradict the weekly saleyard figures.
This only shows the number of cattle returning to the paddock remaining strong.