Weekly Cattle Comments - 18.02.2022

The largest weekly commercial cattle offering in almost ten months failed to dampen online prices, with the 21,481 head offered through AuctionsPlus largely selling to robust demand, especially through the young heifer lines. The main feature of the 26% week-on-week jump in offerings was through the PTIC lines, which made up almost 25% of the market.While the late summer run of warmer and drier conditions has provided the market with some much-needed routine, the recent sideways movement in the eastern states market indicator reveals that buyers continue to push hard for suitable young cattle. With forecasts for additional young cattle to be offered into autumn, it is still anticipated that the likely offloading will be well below the volume required to quench buyers’ desires.

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

The young steer categories were again mixed this week, with the heavy lines making solid gains, while the lightest category edged lower on the back of quality and breed. Heavy steers, 400kg plus, were the best gainers of the week, jumping $106 on last week, to average $2,463/head – or 547c/kg liveweight. Demand was robust through the heaviest lines, with the 1,671 head selling to an 87% clearance rate – up from 81% in the previous week. In contrast, the buying was selective through the 330-400kg lines, with the 1,884 head offered selling to a 62% clearance rate – with the average price kicking $90 higher on last week, to average $2,254/head. From Charters Towers Queensland, a line of 112 Brahman cross steers aged 24-30 months, weighing 332kg liveweight returned $1,932/head, or 582c/kg

The 1,929 head of 200-280kg steers sold to an 77% clearance rate, but slipped back $63 on last week, to average $1,861/head.

Featured in the Tasmanian cattle sale this week, was a total of 492 head of Angus steers aged 17-18 months, which averaged 494kg liveweight. Hailing from Memama, Flinders Island, the steers returned $2,680/head, or 559c/kg liveweight, with the vendor offering free freight to either Tasmania or Victoria.

All five young heifer categories kicked higher this week, albeit with numbers constrained compared to the higher offering through the joined lines and steers. 1,489 head of 280-330kg heifers sold to a 90% clearance rate, averaging $1,991/head – up $41 on last week. Like its steer counterparts, 330-400kg lines registered a lower clearance rate compared to the rest of the market, at only 60% for the 1,669 head offered. Nationally, 200-280kg heifers average $77 higher, at $1,783/head. A line of 108 Charbray cross backgrounder heifers from Moranbah, Queensland, aged 12-18 months and weighing 258kgs, returned $1,730/head, or 672c/kg liveweight.

PTIC heifers were again the largest category in the market, with the 3,208 head offered selling to a 70% clearance rate. The PTIC heifer category for the week averaged $66 higher, at $3,119 head, while PTIC cows slipped back $141, to average $2,888/head – with an 84% clearance rate for the 1,817 head offered. From Armidale, NSW, a line of 43 Angus PTIC heifers weighing 433kgs, aged 18-20 months and joined to registered Wagyu bulls returned $3,830/head.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 18^th February 2022