Waiting, Watching & Wet

It is a second consecutive week of lower cattle offerings through AuctionsPlus, with a total of 13,514 head listed across the three commercial cattle sales – down 29% on the same week last year. As has been the case for much of 2021, weather remains the main influence, with further falls through key cattle regions of NSW and southern Queensland during the first two weeks of October enabling many producers to wait, plan and watch the market.

For the two young cattle sales, Weaner & Yearling Sale 1 and Weaner & Yearling Sale 2, there is a total of 8,953 head offered, with 39% of the offering weaners. For sale 1 (commencing at 9am EDST), which has a Queensland and NSW focus, there is a good run coming out of western and central Queensland (see heat map 1) – which closely matches those areas of the state which still have significant rainfall deficits in 2021.

With the recent favourable rainfall forecast from the BOM, many producers in dry regions through Queensland will be weighing up their options. Sell at the current record high prices, or hold on and hope for an early start to the wet season.

For the smaller Eastern States Cattle Sale, (commencing at 11am EDST) the distribution of offerings is condensed across three main regions (see heat map 2). With 1,852 cows and calves on offer, demand is expected to be robust. Further analysis into last week’s volatile clearance rates across the proven breeding lines showed that bidding for many unsold lines finished very close to the reserve levels, with plenty of post auction negotiations occurring. At the conclusion of the auctions, the clearance rate was 60% for cows and 63% for cows with CAF – this increased to 84% and 86%, respectively, in post-sale negotiations.

WEANER & YEARLING SALE 1 - QLD & NSW (9am EDST)

Lot 858 and 859 – 304 Droughtmaster cross weaned steers from Julia Creek, North Queensland. Offered as a run out the gate of two even lines of 152 head. These weaned steers are 7-10 months of age and 211.7kg liveweight.

Lot 897 – 44 mixed sex Brahman cross backgrounders from Surat, Southern Queensland. These mixed sexes are 11–13 months of age and average 274.8kg liveweight.

Lot 948 – 21 EU Angus feeder heifers from Singleton, Hunter NSW. These Dulverton and Knowla blood feeders are 18-19 months of age and average 383kg liveweight.

WEANER & YEARLING SALE 2 - NSW, VIC & SA (10am EDST)

Lot 114 – 78 Poll Hereford feeder steers from Wantabadgery, Riverina NSW. These feeders are 13-14 months of age and average 471.8kg liveweight.

Lot 154 – 8 NSM future breeder Charolais heifers from Bridgewater, Northern Victoria. These vendor-bred stud heifers are 10–12 months of age and average 325kg liveweight.

Lot 187 – 31 unweaned Angus heifers from Naringal, SW Victoria. The Pathfinder and Moogenilla Angus blood weaners are 7–8 months of age and average 275.9kg liveweight.

Lot 212 and 213 – From Kuitpo, Central & Hills SA, “Arthur Ag” are offering two lines of Angus backgrounder steers. These Ben Nevis and Te Mania blood backgrounder steers are 10–12 months of age and average 345.7kg and 327.3kg liveweight, respectively.

EASTERN STATES CATTLE SALE (11am EDST)

Lot 311 – 59 station mated Charbray cows and calves from Cunnamulla, Western Queensland. The cows are 10–13 years of age, averaged 449kg liveweight and were joined to Charbray bulls. The calves at foot are 1–5 months of age and average 141kg liveweight.

Lot 374 – 50 PTIC Angus heifers from Nundle, NW Slopes and Plains NSW. These heifers are in calf to Angus bulls, range in age between 18–32 months and averaged 445.7kg liveweight. The vendor, “Timor Cattle” has a further 6 lots in the sale of PTIC heifers and heifers and calves.

Lot 498 – 7 PTIC Speckle Park heifers and calves from Welshpool, Gippsland Victoria. The cows are 540.4kg liveweight, 30–32 months of age and joined to stud Speckle Park bulls. The calves at foot are 5–7 months of age and average 210kg liveweight. “Inlet View” has two additional lots in the sale, lot 499 and 500 of PTIC heifers and PTIC cows.

Lot 526 – 54 NSM Angus cross cows and calves from Jamestown, Mid & Upper North SA. The cows are 3–8 years of age and average 508.3kg liveweight. The calves at foot are 1–3 months of age and averaged 85kg.