Overall supplies contracted this week through AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales, with the 16,920 head offered down 12% on the previous week. Unsurprisingly, the competition for the reduced numbers was fierce, especially though the heavier young heifer lines and mid-weight steers, as price movements through the proven breeding lines was again subject to bloodlines and vendors expectations.
The most notable movement this week was for the heavier end of the young heifer category. With a very similar number of 330-400kg heifers offered compared to last week, at 1,430 head, the average price jumped $63, to $2,082/head – at a 95% clearance rate. Reports of producers chasing future breeders assisted the stronger returns, with the favorable season outlook enabling some producers to take a slightly longer and somewhat cheaper approach to rebuilding. In contrast, the PTIC heifer average for the week slipped $60 lower, to $2,547/head – with a 68% clearance rate for the 1,539 head offered.
The heaviest heifers (400kg+) jumped $156 on last week, to average $2,230/head – with a 99% clearance rate for the 681 head offered. While registering a comparable clearance rate for the week, at 97% for the 987 head offered, 400kg+ steers eased $83 this week, to average $2,337/head.
For the young steer lines, there was a sharp contraction in offering for the 200-280kg and 280-330kg categories compared to last week – contracting 47% and 54%, respectively. In contrast, 330-400kg steer numbers increased 63%, at 2,177 head – with the average price slipping $33, to finish at $2,015/head.
The overall clearance rate through the proven breeder categories with CAF was lower this week, an indication that the willingness for buyers to meet vendor reserves was again diverging. NSM heifers with CAF averaged 5% cheaper on last week, at $3,639/head - with 75% of the 736 head selling. Interestingly, the clearance rate for PTIC cows was close to last week, at 56%, for the 1,415 head offered – while the average price jumped 11% on last week, to $2,728/head.
NOTE: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 10th September, 2021.