Weekly Cattle Comments - 04.03.22

For a third consecutive week, more than 21,000 head of commercial cattle were offered through AuctionsPlus main Friday sales, with many buyers still searching high-and-low for quality, lighter lines. Through the main steer and heifer lines, 60% of the categories registered an increase this week, while quality again dictated some large swings through the proven breeder lines.

Small average price declines for the 280-330kg and 400kg+ steer categories were overshadowed this week by sharp jumps in the remaining three steer categories, with 200-280kg liveweight lines averaging $158 higher on last week, at $1,959/head. A line of 136 Droughtmaster cross steers aged 6-12 months, from Prairie Queensland, which averaged 225kg liveweight, returned $2,150/head, or 840c/kg lwt. Heading into the southern states, another highlight for the week included a line of 73 Angus steers aged 6-7 months from Branxholme Victoria, which weighed 247kg lwt and returned $2,070/head, or 837c/kg lwt.

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

A very thin market of steers less than 200kg sold to a 100% clearance rate, with the average price jumping $147/head on last week, to $1,293/head. At the other end of the spectrum, steers over 400kg averaged $2,370kg head, back $22 on last week, with a 74% clearance rate for the reduced 1,140 head offered. Weighing 409kg liveweight, a line of 9-11-month-old Angus steers from Inman Valley, SA, returned $2,562/head, or 627c/kg lwt. In Queensland, 34 10-12-month-old Angus steers weighing 403kg lwt, from Allora returned $2,460/head, or 611c/kg.

For 330-400kg steers, demand improved, with the 2,756 head offered selling to an 85% clearance rate – averaging $69 higher on last week, at $2,238/head. From Bundurra NSW, two lines of 6–7-month-old Angus steers, totaling 134 head and weighing 348kg lwt, topped the category, returning $2,610/head, or 750c/kg lwt.

For the young heifer lines, there was some large movements through the three middle weight categories, reflecting the differing quality through the market. 200-280kg heifers dropped $101 on last week, to average $1,737/head, with a below average 58% clearance rate for the 1,203 head offered. In contrast, the 280-330kg heifers kicked $108 higher than the previous week, to average $1,912/head – with an improved 73% clearance rate for the 1,909 head offered.

330-400kg heifers slipped back $132 this week, wiping out last weeks $111 gain, to average $2,164/head. While last weeks average was bolstered by some excellent lines, this week’s offering was more consistent and “normal”, with the clearance rate hitting 87% for the 1,416 head offered. Heavy heifers averaged $15 higher on last week, averaging $2,453/head.

PTIC heifers again dominated the breeding stock numbers, with the 3,152 head offered selling to a 72% clearance rate. Bolstered by a market high of $5,675/head, PTIC heifers averaged $3,199/head this week – up $184 on last week. An increased numbers of PTIC cows, at 1,894 head also sold to a stronger market, averaging $169 higher on the previous week, to $2,992/head.

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