AuctionsPlus Cattle Markets – They are coming from everywhere this week!

This week’s nine AuctionsPlus cattle sales to be held on Friday 6^th August, has cattle listed from all corners of the nation, with numbers expected to be close to 20,000 head – which would be the largest offering since May and more than 40% above the corresponding week last year. Spanning from Derby in Northwest WA to Bombala in southeast NSW, from Bridport in Northern Tasmania to Chillagoe at the start of Cape York in Queensland, it appears as though producers are keen to make the most of the “once-in-a-lifetime” prices currently being received through the market.

For the three largest sales, Weaner and Yearling Sale 1 (commencing 9am EST), Weaner and Yearling Sale 2 (commencing at 10am EST and the Eastern States Cattle Sale (commencing 11am EST), buyer demand is expected to maintain its recent record levels. Buoying buyer confidence this week will be the recent coverage of Meat & Livestock Australia cattle projections, which points to a continuation of the very strong market fundamentals into 2022.

Feeding the strong outlook for the second half of 2021 is the sustained seasonal outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology, which forecasts wetter conditions to be maintained through a massive swathe of the nation through August to October. If forecasts for an earlier than normal start to the northern wet season for 2021-22 come to fruition, supplies out of the few remaining “drier” cattle catchments could contract.

Heading clockwise around the nation, starting at Chillagoe at the base of Cape York, an excellent line of 660 Brahman heifers in four lots are listed in the Eastern States Cattle (Lots 500, 501, 502 & 503). From the Consolidated Pastoral Company’s “Wrotham Park Station”, Chillagoe, the 660 head, through four lots range from 245-410kg liveweight – averaging around 312kg, ranging in age from 12 -24 months.

Heading south, an excellent line of EU accredited PTIC Hereford and Santa/Hereford cross cows in calf to Palgrove bulls have been offered through Nutrien Taroom. On offer through the Eastern states sale, the 146 cows are being offered through three lots – 515, 516 and 517.

GDL Meandarra have offered an excellent line of 64 Angus backgrounder steers in the Weaner and Yearling sale 1 (Lot 159), out Tara, Queensland, in good store condition, averaging 291.6kg/head. Down the road at Goondiwindi, there is also some impressive Angus weaners available, all EU Accredited and all bred from Te Mania bloodlines – Lots 195 and 196.

Into NSW, in the Weaner and Yearling sale 1 a selected line of 28 backgrounder Charbray/Charolais heifers are offered out of Glen Innes, averaging 255.3kg liveweight (Lot 207). Heading to the Southeast coastal region of NSW, and to the Weaner and Yearling sale 2, Lot 389 consists of 20 weaned Poll Hereford heifers, 10-11 months of age and averaging 276.5kg/head.

Tasmania has just shy of 500 head on offer in their weekly Friday sale this week. One of the feature lines (Lot 937) out of Bridport, in Northeast Tasmania, with 60 Angus weaned steers, ranging from 10-12 months of age and averaging 331.8kg liveweight. In the past year, Tasmanian producers offered 18,658 head of cattle via AuctionsPlus – with an annual clearance rate of 93%.

Last, but certainly not least, from Derby WA, 2,101 Red Brahman heifers are being offered in the Weaner & Yearling Sale 1 – Lot 100 through to 110.

A full rundown of Friday's results will be released by 5pm Friday 6^th August. Just look for the AuctionsPlus Weekly Cattle Market Summary.