Cattle offered through AuctionsPlus increased a further 13% this week to 22,234 head, with prices fluctuating on the previous week, as buyers appeared to be hesitant at current prices for the proven breeding lines. While the feature in the physical market for the week was an EYCI surging through the 900c/kg cwt barrier, finishing Thursday at 907.5c/kg cwt, the AuctionsPlus steer categories in c/kg terms were up for the lighter lines, while the heavier categories eased.
With the higher numbers offered and mild weather in recent weeks, there was no clear price pattern coming out of this week’s AuctionsPlus sales. However, with the higher numbers presented this week, overall clearance rates were well down on last week for steers and breeding lines – an indication that buyers remain very hesitant to lift their bids, as vendors keep reserve levels just out of reach.
PTIC heifers eased $65 this week, to $2,378/head – with the average clearance rate of only 47% for the 3,285 head offered, compared with the 60% clearance last week. An indicative line of 85 PTIC Hereford heifers sold to $2,120/head this week – averaging 403.3kg liveweight at 18-19 months of age. For the 280-330kg heifers, the average price for the week slipped $6, to $1,486/head – with the clearance rate at 54% for the 2,481 head offered. In contrast, the heavier, 330-400kg heifer category averaged $13 higher on last week, at $1,635/head, with an 82% clearance rate for the 1,447 head offered.
The heaviest populated steer category this week was for the 280-330kg lines, with a 75% clearance rate for the 3,740 head offered. Compared to last week’s much smaller offering, average prices slipped $35 lower, to $1,615/head. The two lighter categories increased $111 and $70/head, respectively on the previous week, with under 200kg steers averaging $1,119/head, while 200-280kg steers averaged $1,472/head.
One feature lot this week was 111 weaned Angus steers from Greenethorpe NSW, which sold to $1,800 head – averaging 276.9/kg liveweight at 6-7 months of age.
The 982 PTIC cows offered this week, averaged $2,256/head – down $119 on the previous week.
NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 16th April, 2021
For more categories, please go to:
National AuctionsPlus Store Report - Cattle
Cattle Averages 16/04/2021
To download this report in pdf - click here.