After last weeks two year high, supplies offered through AuctionsPlus cattle sales returned to more normal levels this week, with 16,758 head offered. However, while there was a significant decline in weekly offerings, the overall market sentiment remained unchanged from last week, with plenty of pre-auction interest and catalogue views not transferring through to higher clearance rates at the immediate end of the sale.
The main trend across the two weaner and yearling sales this week was plenty of looking and research, resulting in subdued final sales, as buyers remained very cautious in a slightly cooling market. Weekly averages were back across the four main young steer categories, with a very limited supply of feeder steers slipping back $122 on last week, averaging $2,427/head. For the lighter lines, 200-280kg steers averaged $125 cheaper on last week, at $1,720/head, with quality and bloodlines exerting influence – reaching a 57%clearance rate for the 1,854 head offered.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices
330-400kg steers averaged only $37 lower on last week, at $2,174/head, with a 73% clearance rate for the 1,657 head offered. 90 Simmental/Santa cross yearling steers, out of Springsure Central Queensland, sold to $2,160/head – averaging 360.1kg liveweight and ranging from 13-17 months of age.
Matching the very tight supply through the physical markets, quality steers less than 200kg are very rare, with the very thin AuctionsPlus offering averaging $1,326/head. Boosting this week’s average was 37 unweaned Ultrablack/Brangus steers out of Uralla, NSW Northern Tablelands, which sold to $1,700/head, or 908.1c/kg liveweight. Ranging from 122-245kg, averaging 187.2kg liveweight, the calves ranged from 3-5 months of age.
For the young heifer component of the market, price movements for the week were mixed, with the lighter lines falling on the back of reduced supplies, while rebuilding intentions helped to bolster the heavy lines. 400kg+ heifers averaged $75 higher for the week, at $2,458/head, while the 330-400kg category edged $31 higher, to average $2,143/head. Clearance rates across the five categories were largely below average, with the 995 head of 200-280kg heifers hitting a 67% clearance rate.
A large line of 141 SM Santa cross cows, with 137 CAF sold to $2,820/head. Out of Corfield, Western Queensland, the cows ranged from 2-12 years of age, averaging 491.9kg/head liveweight, while the calves sired by Santa Gertrudis and Droughtmaster bulls averaged 103kg.
This week’s online offering also included the stud dispersal of ‘Corry’s Glen Angus’, Gloucester, NSW. Sold across a total of 57 lots, the offering consisted of both stud joined and un-joined breeding units. Demand for the breeding genetics was strong, with the dispersal receiving an 81% clearance, selling to both local and interstate buyers. Result highlights included PTIC cows and calves averaged $6,630/head - selling from $5,900-$8,500. PTIC heifers averaged $4,933/head, while NSM cows and calves averaged $5,964/head and ranged from $4,000-$8,250. NSM heifers sold from $2,000 - $3,400/head, to average $2,713/head.
NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 1st April 2022
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices