Weekly Cattle Comments - 25.02.22

Buyers were greeted by the largest AuctionsPlus cattle offering since November 2020 this week, at 22,648 head, with overall results underpinned by the search for quality, light cattle. Boosted by larger numbers out of Queensland, clearance rates through the young steer lines were largely in line with last week, while the young heifer clearance was slightly lower through the mid-weight lines.The return of some very wet conditions along the eastern fringe will conclude the La Nina summer, along with putting many producers through Southeast Queensland back on flood watch. Patchy storms through NSW will continue to foster restocker demand and offset the impact of the recent short run of warmer conditions.

Prices were slightly lower for three of the four heaviest young steer categories this week. Only 280-330kg steers averaged higher, edging $16 up on last week, at $2,045/head – also registering the highest clearance rate, at 86%, for the 2,325 head offered. Through the lighter 200-280kg lines, prices eased back $60 on last week, to average $1,801/head, with a 74% clearance rate for the 1,829 head offered. From Mitchell, Queensland, a line of 114 8-10-month-old Brahman/Droughtmaster steers weighing 209kg liveweight, returned $1,755/head, or 842c/kg liveweight.

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

A jump in feeder steer numbers, to 1,979 head, contributed to a $71 decline for the week, to average $2,392/head, or 531c/kg lwt. Weighing an average of 439kg liveweight, a line of 113 Angus feeder steers, aged 17-18 months from Holbrook NSW, returned $2,710/head, or 618c/kg.

Some excellent quality young heifers helped to boost average prices this week, with 200-280kg lines averaging $55 higher on last week, at $1,838/head. From Camboon Queensland, a line of 131 weaned heifers aged 8-15 months returned $1,620/head, or 641c/kg. Consisting of Droughtmaster, Charbray, Santa Gertrudis and Brangus breeds, the heifers averaged 253kg liveweight.

Similarly, 330-400kg lines jumped $111 on last week, to average $2,296/head. However, in between these two categories, 280-330kg heifers dropped $187 on last week, to $1,804/head – missing out on the lots with exceptional bloodlines offered in neighboring weight categories.

For the heaviest heifers over 400kg, prices edged $5 higher on last week, to $2,438/head, with a 67% clearance rate for the 936 head offered. From Yambacoona Tasmania, three even lines totalling 120 head of Angus heifers returned $2,700/head, or 633c/kg liveweight. The heifers were aged 16-18-months, weigh an average of 427kg liveweight, and are set to travel into Victoria.

For the proven breeder lines, it was a largely cheaper week, albeit with most categories just giving back the gains of previous week. PTIC heifers slipped back $104 on last week, to average $3,015/head, with the clearance rate of 70% for the 2,604 head offered. The premium over PTIC cows narrowed slightly, with PTIC cows easing only $65 on last week, to average $2,823/head.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 25^th February 2022