So far in 2021, AuctionsPlus prices for young Hereford steers, 200-280kg liveweight, averaged $1,428/head. The 2021 average was up 86% on the same period in 2020 ($767/head), and 127% on 2019 ($629/head). For the heavier young steer category, 280-330kg liveweight, prices have averaged $1,623/head in 2021 - 43% higher than in 2020 and 117% from the drought period in 2019.
Young heifers, 280-330kg liveweight, averaged $1,470/head for the January – May period in 2021, up 45% on 2020 and 120% on 2019.
PTIC heifers were the largest Hereford category for the 2021 period, at 1,966 head, averaging $2,258/head – up 44% and 118%, respectively on the same period in 2020 and 2019. Comparatively, 586 PTIC Hereford heifers were offered in 2020 and only 235 in 2019.
The largest jump in prices for a single Hereford category since the depths of the drought in 2019 was for PTIC cows, which averaged $2,430 head in 2021 – up 191% over the two-year period. Close behind, was a 188% increase for Hereford cows with CAF, up 188% since 2019 and 40% on the January – May period in 2020.