Younger Cattle Herd Underpinning Genetic Explosion

Analysis into the age breakdown of PTIC cows on AuctionsPlus has indicated that the national breeding herd is getting younger. On average since 2016, 20% of PTIC cows listed on AuctionsPlus are between two and three years old, while cows between three and four years of age make up the largest proportion, with 23% of listings. The proportion of listings then decreases as we move up the age groups, with a notable step down in eight and nine-year-old cows (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Average proportion of each age of PTIC Cows on AuctionsPlus since 2016

The rebuild of the national cattle herd over the last three years has involved both the increased retention and purchases of young breeding females, leading to an increased proportion of younger PTIC cows offered on AuctionsPlus. PTIC cows aged from two to four years old accounted for 36% of listings in 2016. This age cohort has increased to 55% in 2022. Likewise, the proportion of PTIC cows aged from four to twelve years old has decreased from 64% to 45% in 2022 (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Age Breakdown of AuctionsPlus PTIC Cows: 2016-2022* (up to 9^th December)

This demographic change has had several impacts on the wider industry. In a previous article, we highlighted the strong demand for “Heifer Bulls” in 2022 due to the increased proportion of heifers in the breeding herd ahead of Spring joining programs. As a case study, Angus bulls sold on AuctionsPlus in 2022 with a birthweight EBV lower than the breed average achieved an 8% premium over bulls with above average birthweight EBV. The increased proportion of younger breeding females also increases the influence of the newer and most advanced genetics - leading to more advanced genetic gain for the herd as it expands to above average levels. This has also flowed through to record demand for quality bulls in 2022, as producers look to maximise their genetic gain during the herd rebuild.