High rain gauges keep cattle numbers low…again

Another exceptionally wet week across the eastern states has suppressed cattle numbers for AuctionsPlus commercial sales on Friday 26^th November. With just below 14,000 head on offer across the main two sales, it is the fourth consecutive week that numbers have been below the corresponding weeks in 2020.

With rain recorded across a wide area throughout the past week and more heavy falls anticipated, logistical and marketing disruption are likely to increase into early December, and very possibly early 2022. With the young cattle market continuing to flirt with record levels, producers with market ready cattle are likely to be frustrated by the disruption and impact on cashflow, but also calmed by the expectation for prices to remain near current levels for the run into the holiday period.

For the commercial Weaner & Yearling Sale, commencing at 9am EDST, weaners are expected to make up 45% of the total offering, with the 200-280kg steer category again expected to see healthy numbers. In recent weeks the decline in the number of heavy steers (400kg+) has been noticeable, along with the cautious buying and subdued clearance rate for the category. After a record number of heavy steers in late October, exceeding 2,300 head, recent weeks offerings have halved – reportedly a combination of the wet weather and increasing direct consignments.

It is a slightly larger Eastern States Sale this week, with just under 4,600 head catalogued. Of note this week is an increase in the numbers of cow and calf units on offer – making up around one-third of the market.

Weaner & Yearling Sale – commencing at 9am EDST

• Lot 214 – 96 backgrounder Brahman steers from Augathella, Western Queensland. These steers averaged 317.2kg liveweight and are 10–16 months of age.

• Lot 250 – From Beaudesert, Southern Queensland, 12 weaned Ultrablack/Limousin cross heifers aged 7-12 months and 251.8kg liveweight.

• Lot 318 – 34 Shorthorn feeder steers from Merriwa, Hunter NSW. These feeders are 341kg liveweight and 12–15 months of age.

• Lot 344 and 345 – 75 unweaned Angus steers (lot 744) and heifers (lot 345) from Braidwood, Southern Tablelands, NSW. The steers, offered as a line of 52 are 278kg liveweight and 9–10 months of age, while the 23 heifers are the same age and 229.9kg liveweight.

• Lot 406 – 5 NSM Angus heifers from Staghorn Flat, Northeast Victoria. These 11–12-month-old heifers averaged 346.8kg liveweight and range from 314kg to 371kg.

Eastern States Sale – commencing at 10am EDST

• Lot 510 – 65 station mated cows and 65 calves from Tara, Southern Queensland. The Hereford cross cows are mixed ages, 460.5kg liveweight and have been joined to registered Red Angus bulls. The calves at foot are 2–12 weeks of age and 78kg liveweight.

• Lot 540 and 541 – 61 PTIC Angus heifers offered across two lots from Glen Innes, Northern Tablelands, NSW. Lot 540 has 30 PTIC heifers which are 23–24 months of age and 510.3kg liveweight. Lot 541 has 31 PTIC heifers averaging 457.6kg liveweight and range in age between 18–20 months.

• Lot 702 – 1 NSM Simmental cow and 1 calf from Dumbalk, Gippsland Victoria. Both the cow and the heifer calf are sired by stud Simmental bulls and the cow is three years and 703kg liveweight.

• Lot 728 – 52 PTIC Poll Hereford heifers from Willalooka, Upper SE SA. These EU eligible joined heifers are 517.2kg liveweight, 19–21 months of age and are joined to Stoney Point Angus bulls.