Weekly Cattle Comments - 04.02.22

With a total of 21,160 head offered across the main AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales this week, numbers were up 15% week-on-week. This week’s offering was the highest since April 2021 with an abundance of mid weight steers, heifers and PTIC breeders boosting numbers. With a return to regular sales and larger volumes of cattle hitting the market, the state of the cattle market remains robust across the key medium and heavy weight steer and heifer categories whilst the lightest lines recorded a softening in prices.

Clearance rates increased across all steer categories this week while lighter lines saw prices soften and erase the previous few weeks gains to reflect the true value of the cattle market. Steers in the 200-280kg category sold to a clearance of 82% with the category averaging 701c/kg- back 29c. From Bingara, New South Wales a line of Angus/Ultraback/Droughtmaster unweaned steers aged 6-9 months weighing 239kg liveweight returned $2,010/head or 841c/kg.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices

Steers weighing between 280-330kg had a total of 2,015 head offered which sold to an 82% clearance with the category averaging the same as last week at 662c/kg. A line of 91, 9-10-month-old Angus steers from Mount Compass, South Australia weighing 306kg liveweight returned $2,400/head or 783c/kg. Steers in the mid-weight 330-400kg category had the largest offering for young cattle this week with 2,630 head offered which returned an 81% clearance as prices remained robust to average 625c/kg- back 2c on last week.

Heifer listings increased week on week with 7,338 head offered this week which returned mixed results across the respective categories. Heifers weighing 200-280kg had a total of 1,529 head listed which was met with robust demand as a 95% clearance was obtained with the category returning losses from the previous week to average 750c/kg- up 52c. From Tambo, Queensland a line of 118 backgrounder Droughtmaster/Angus cross heifers weighing 243kg liveweight and aged from 5-14 months returned $1,691/head or 689c/kg.

Heifers weighing 280-330kg sold to a 77% clearance for the 1,170 head offered with the category returning an average of 656c/kg- back 1c on last week. A line consisting of 110, 10-12-month-old Angus NSM future breeder heifers from Nundle, New South Wales weighing 287kg liveweight returned $2,050/head or 752c/kg. Of note, 330-400kg heifers recorded a significant rise in listings this week with the category almost doubling in volume to record 2,204 head offered. Unwavering demand was evident as both clearance and demand remained robust despite the increased volume with the category averaging 608c/kg- slipping 1c from last week.

Proven breeding lines saw PTIC heifer and cow categories account for a majority of the offering, with 3,445 and 1,378 head listed, respectively. Following softened prices for PTIC heifers last week, the category bounced back to average $3,205/head- up $118 with clearance rates remaining firm at 75%. Hailing from Darwin, Northern Territory a run of 112 PTIC Brahman heifers aged 16-28 months and weighing 335kg liveweight returned $1,750/head which were purchased by a New South Wales buyer. PTIC cow prices recorded a drop in value again this week with the category back a further $86 to average $2,837/head with clearance for the category remaining strong at 81%.

Station mated cows and calves had a total of 927 head listed which averaged $3,543/head – back $1 from last week with the category recording a lowered clearance of 59%. A line of 41 station mated Charolais/Santa Gertrudis cows with calves at foot from Coonamble, NSW aged 2-4 years weighing 486kg liveweight returned $3,820/head.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 4th February 2022