Major saleyards reported much reduced lamb numbers at the start of this week as a panic sell-off is put on hold.

New rules will ban live sheep exports to, or through, the Middle East to other ports for 3.5 months during the northern hemisphere summer.

The sale of all rams offered at the inaugural invitational dorper and white dorper ram sale at Charleville has underlined the growth in the meat sheep industry in southern Queensland.

Meat & Livestock Australia has closed all its offices for a month to ride out the coronavirus risk.

Thomas Foods International says meat processing at its two major plants is operating as normal.

Export uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to impact Australia's lamb and mutton markets.

LiveCorp is speeding up accreditation of stock handlers to ensure live sheep and cattle boats keep sailing.

A big yarding of lambs at Monday's Bendigo sale added to fears producers are keen to sell amid fears coronavirus will cause more headaches in the red meat supply chain.

Meat & Livestock Australia's officers remain open - for now - as coronavirus continues to spread.

Exotic fall armyworm is spreading from its arrival point at Bamaga in far north Queensland.