After last weeks holiday reduced offerings, commercial cattle numbers through AuctionsPlus major sales bounced back this week, with the 19,120 head selling to a predominantly stronger market. With a significantly larger young steer offering this week, prices were up across all five categories, spurred by an encouraging forecast for widespread rain into next week, along with a scramble for quality lighter lines before the cold weather eventually hits the southern states.
Looking ahead, a widespread rainfall event for the eastern states, currently forecast to be heaviest through central Queensland, may see numbers out of these regions tighten into early May. Further south, late April rain is always welcome, especially after the recent run of mild conditions and huge sowing efforts. With the first frost of the year imminent, producers will be anxiously watching late autumn pasture growth and early season crop growth.
Scarcity continues to be the driving force behind the young cattle market, even with several very large physical weaner sales also occurring this week. 200-280kg steers this week averaged $36 higher, at $1,828/head, with a 64% clearance rate for the 2,748 head offered. A line of 86 Angus steers, aged 8-9 months from Macarthur Victoria, weighing 210kg lwt, returned $1,900/head, or 902c/kg. There was a similar clearance rate for the 280-330kg category, with the 2,343 head offered registering 65% clearance rate – averaging $89 higher on last week, at $2,038/head. From Euroa Victoria, a line of 108 Angus steers aged 6-8 months, averaging 321kgs liveweight, returned $2,330/head, or 727c/kg.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices
For the heaver steer lines, prices and clearance rates were also higher than in previous weeks, with the 1,275 head of 330-400kg steers averaging $90 higher, at $2,257/head. From Goondiwindi Queensland, a line of 6-8-month-old Poll Hereford/Angus steers weighing 365kgs lwt returned $2,280/head, or 625c/kg lwt. In contrast to the lighter categories, feeder steer numbers remained tight, which helped prices, with the 542 head selling to an 80% clearance rate – averaging $156 dearer, at $2,661/head.
For the young heifer portion of the market, prices slipped for the lightest and heaviest lines, while substantial rises were registered through the mid-weights. 200-280kg heifers, with 1,792 head offered, sold to a 60% clearance rate, with the average for the week hitting $1,775/head – up by $221 and erasing all of last week’s decline.
330-400kg heifers averaged $128 higher on last week, averaging $2,185/head for the 540 head offered. A line of 87 Droughtmaster heifers from Aramac Queensland, weighing 360kg liveweight, returned $1,820/head, or 505c/kg. The heifers ranged in age from 18-24 months and will travel to Lockington, Victoria.
PTIC cow numbers jumped by almost 1,000 head on last week, with a very competitive 80% clearance rate. Prices for the week averaged $41 higher, averaging $2,992/head. A line of 102 Santa Gertrudis PTIC cows from Mundubbera, Queensland, ranging in age from 2-8 years and averaging 541kg lwt returned $2,350/head – secured by a buyer in Dunedoo, NSW.