The resilience and market appeal of Australian cattle breeds — with Santa Gertrudis continuing to be a standout — have never been clearer than in the data coming out of the 2024–25 financial year. While all breeds have navigated shifting conditions this year, Santa Gertrudis results provide a clear example of how clearance rates, premiums, and timing shape outcomes online. But this FY year’s story isn’t just about strong performance. It’s also about navigating a shifting market, and understanding how breed reputation, timing, and listing strategy combine to shape real outcomes.
Across five years of data, Santa Gertrudis cattle have averaged 84% clearance on AuctionsPlus, a strong result compared to the all-breeds average of 77.28%. That’s not a seasonal blip or a good run during favourable conditions — that’s consistency.
Quarter after quarter, buyers have shown up and bid confidently on Santa lines. In Q2 2025 the gap narrowed, but Santas still cleared slightly ahead of the all-breeds average. The surge in late 2024 and early 2025 potentially saw restockers fill up on Santas, while at the same time increased listings across southern Australia lifted demand for other breeds.
When it comes to price, Santa breeders continue to hold an edge. Comparing the Santa-specific AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator (AYCI) to the national benchmark EYCI, the premium is clear.
Since 2020, both purebred and crossbred Santa lots have consistently outperformed the EYCI on a c/kg dressed weight basis. Even during challenging periods like the sharp market correction of 2023, Santa Gertrudis lines maintained their premium, and in recent quarters, that premium has widened again.
While clearance rates have tracked more closely to the all-breeds average in recent months, Santa’s price premium has actually strengthened. Even in softer markets, buyers are still willing to pay more for genetics they trust, and that speaks volumes about the reputation Santa cattle have earned in commercial systems.
Drilling down into pricing by weight category reveals some strategic insights for sellers. The conventional wisdom of “weight beats rate” does hold, but there are distinct weight-based premiums that can be maximised with planning.
Take the 240–260kg range: steers in this class averaged $1,145/head, a full $126/head higher than the 220–240kg range, despite a relatively small weight difference. Another standout bracket was 360–380kg, which returned a $154/head lift over the 340–360kg range — and even outperformed heavier categories beyond 380kg.
Heavier isn’t always better. In the 380–420kg range, extra liveweight actually returned less per kilo. For producers listing online, timing sale weights to land in high-performing brackets can unlock serious margin gains.
While these insights are drawn from Santa Gertrudis results, similar weight-based trends apply across the broader market — giving producers a clear takeaway regardless of program.
Beyond weight, seasonality continues to shape sale outcomes. The highest average prices for Santa Gertrudis steers were recorded during the summer months — December to February — a trend that’s been consistent across 3, 5, and 10-year averages.
April 2025 delivered an outlier result, with higher average weights boosting returns, though still falling short of summer price averages. That window aligns with several favourable conditions: post-weaning demand and restocker confidence (especially in the north) pushing feedlotter activity.
For sellers, timing listings to align with summer strength can mean the difference between clearing stock at fair value — and walking away with a premium.
Santa Gertrudis cattle continue to set a benchmark within the wider cattle market. In clearance, in pricing, and in buyer demand, the breed’s dual focus on maternal efficiency and feedlot performance has long made it a favourite in northern programs, and that trust is translating into consistently strong sale outcomes online.
At a time when producers are being asked to do more with less, tighter margins, changing climate, shifting consumer preference, Santa Gertrudis offers what few other breeds can: a reliable result in uncertain times.
And while each breed brings its own advantages to the table, the Santa results highlight how reputation and strategy continue to pay off, even in tougher conditions.
