Cattle starting to flow

The onset of the warmer weather has contributed to the increased flow of cattle into the AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales for Friday 29th October. With 18,160 head catalogued for sale, and over 14,000 head in the two Weaner and Yearling auctions, it should prove to be another good test of the buyer sentiment in the market as the physical markets hit new highs again this week.

Utilizing 2020 numbers as a guide to the coming weeks, offerings through November 2020 exceeded 20,000 head for the first three weeks of the month. With this weeks offering 10% above the same period last year, the anticipated surge in heavier cattle looks to have commenced, assisted by the lure of record prices. Indeed, this week will see over 2,300 head of 400kg+ steers offered – easily the largest weekly offering for this category in AuctionsPlus history (previous high was in December 2020 at 1,500 head).

Weaner & Yearling Sale 1 (commencing at 9am EDST) has over 10,000 head on offer across 193 lots, with lines out of WA, Queensland, and northern NSW. The smaller Weaner & Yearling Sale 2 (commencing at 10am EDST), with 159 lots and 4,547 head out of southern NSW, Victoria and SA. With demand for quality, proven breeding lines being maintained, the Eastern States Cattle Sale (commencing at 11am EDST) will again make for interesting watching, especially for the 1,825 cows with calves at foot.

Weaner & Yearling Sale 1 (commencing 9am EDST)

Lot 576 and 577 – From Biloela, Central Queensland, “RC & DH Hartwig” have two lines offered of composite weaned steers and heifers. The 103 weaned steers (Lot 576) are 8–10 months of age and 246.2kg liveweight and the 108 weaned heifers are the same age and average 215.1kg liveweight.

Lot 665 – 33 weaned Brahman heifers from Mingoola, Southern Queensland. These heifers are 7–10 months of age and range in weight between 152-270kg, to average 200kg liveweight. The vendor, “Magnerlands Pty Ltd” also has a line of 19 weaned Brahman steers in the same sale.

Lot 728 – 38 Angus yearling steers from Armatree, Northwest Slopes and Plains NSW. These 460.1kg liveweight Angus steers are 15–16 months of age, with 57% fat score 2.

Weaner & Yearling Sale 2 (commencing 10am EDST)

Lot 841 – 27 NSM Poll Hereford future breeders, out of Bigga, NSW Southern Tablelands, averaging 438.5kg and ranging 370-504kg liveweight.

Lot 878 – 30 Angus backgrounder steers, from Uranquinty, NSW Riverina, averaging 249.6kg liveweight and ranging from 7-10 months of age.

Lot 913 – 30 weaned Angus steers, out of Sandy Creek, Northeast Victoria. Averaging 390.4kg liveweight, the steers are 12-13 months of age and range from 334-487kg.

Eastern States Cattle Sale (commencing 11am EDST)

Lot 103 – 35 Droughtmaster cross cows and calves from Springsure, Central Queensland. The cows are 404.1kg liveweight and range in age between 4–12 years. The calves at foot are 191kg liveweight and 4–6 months of age.

Lot 159 – From Walcha, Northern Tablelands NSW, 49 PTIC Angus heifers averaging 558kg liveweight. These EU Booroomooka blood heifers are 24–25 months of age and have been joined to Booroomooka Angus sires. The vendor “SV Nivison & Co” are offering a total of 260 PTIC cows across nine lots.

Lot 314 – 16 PTIC Charolais cross cows from Maroona, Southwest Victoria. The cow’s range in age between 3–7 years, averaged 634.6kg liveweight and are joined to Mt William Charolais bulls.

Lot 337 – 11 station mated Poll Hereford cows and calves from Keith, Upper SE SA. The cows are 4–5 years of age and weigh 563.1kg liveweight. The calves at foot are 1–4 months of age and 173kg liveweight.