Record listings as producers chase Christmas cash

AuctionsPlus has recorded its largest commercial offering of the year, with 23,775 cattle listed for Friday’s sales.

It’s the highest number of head recorded since the third week of November 2022 — a 57% increase from last week’s online commercial cattle offering of 15,104 head.

The driver has been Weaner and Yearling sales, which have jumped 52% between last Friday’s listing of 12,329 and tomorrow’s 18,776 head.

Listings have surged from Central W NSW and North and N/E Victoria

The biggest yardings in the Weaner and Yearling sales this week come from Central Western NSW as well as Northern and North East Victoria, which have all recorded significant increases in the past four weeks.

Paul Holm, General Manager of Network at AuctionsPlus, noted the January surge in young cattle numbers had come early this year.

“Producers are taking the opportunity to bank some money over the summer period on the back of a significant increase in the price over the past few weeks,” he said.

The past four sales have recorded increasing purchases in the Northern Tablelands and Riverina in NSW.

Southern Queensland has been particularly active during the past month

However, the uptick in purchases made from Southern Queensland are the most profound, and have been sustained for a number of weeks now. Almost 3,000 head from this category alone were sold to Southern Queensland producers during last Friday’s sale.

“With a number of regions experiencing decent rain in the past few weeks, we are seeing more buyers coming on to the platform from previously quiet areas,” Mr Holm said.

“Southern Queensland is a good example, where restockers are coming back on the platform.

“That is bringing some competition back into the market in terms of pricing, and producers are looking to tap into that national network of buyers.”