Weekly Cattle Comments - 29.04.22

Commercial cattle offerings through AuctionsPlus this week reached 19,463 head, an increase of 2% on last week, as clearance rates lifted across almost all categories. Excellent falls of rain through central Queensland and NSW during the past week helped to rekindle buyer competition, especially for the quality lines out northern NSW.

With over 6,000 head offered between the 200-280kg and 280-330kg steer lines for the week, up 20% on last week, competition was fierce, with pre-auction catalogue views indicative of a robust auction. Interestingly, while clearance rates for both categories were up on recent weeks, with 200-280kg steers at 70% and 280-330kg steers at 78%, prices diverged. The 3,279 head of 200-280kg steers averaged $43 lower on last week, at $1,785/head, while the 280-330kg steers averaged $125 higher, at $2,163/head. From Hungerford Queensland, a line of 208 EU accredited Shorthorn steers, aged 7-8 months weighing an average of 202kg lwt returned $1,860/head, or 919c/kg lwt.

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

For the heavier lines numbers were again tight, with the 562 head of 400kg steers selling to an 85% clearance rate, but averaging $167 lower on last week, at $2,494/head. A line of 12-13-month-old Angus steers from Penola, SA, weighing 409kg lwt returned $2,610/head, or 638c/kg lwt - heading to Murray Bridge, SA.

For the young heifer lines, it was three-up-two-down for average prices across the five categories this week, with the largest offerings again in the 200-280kg categories. The clearance rates for the 2,042 head of 200-280kg heifers hit 79% this week – up from 60% last week, albeit with prices slipping $8 lower, to $1,767/head. From Douglas-Daly, NT, a line of 124 NSM Brahman future breeder heifers weighing 266kg lwt and aged 16-20-months-old returned $1,390/head – selling to a buyer from Adelaide River, NT. In the south, a large run of 120 Angus heifers from Merton, Victoria, weighing 237kg lwt returned $1,850/head.

280-330kg heifers averaged $143 higher this week, at $2,054/head, while the 747 head of 330-400kg lines averaged $60 higher, at $2,245/head. As was the case for heavy steers, there was a limited amount of 400kg+ heifers offered this week, with the 514 head averaging $61 lower on last week, at $2,324/head. A line of Santa-Gertrudis cross heifers from Toobeah Queensland, weighing 403kg lwt, returned $2,090/head and will travel interstate to a buyer in Colbinabbin, Victoria.

Through the proven breeding lines there was some major price movements this week, reflective of age, bloodlines, and buyer preferences. A reduced offering of PTIC heifers, at 2,646 head, sold to a higher clearance rate than last week, hitting 57%, while prices average $66 lower, at $2,894/head. A line of 60 PTIC Angus heifers aged 20-22 months, from Moyston Victoria, weighing 377kg lwt, returned $3,060/head and will travel to Portland, Victoria.

Robust demand for PTIC cows contributed to a 76% clearance rate for the 2,197 head offered, with prices averaging $127 higher on last week, at $3,119/head. From Cloncurry Queensland, a line of 220 Brahman PTIC cows, ranging from 2-11 years of age and weighing 459kg lwt, returned $2,360/head and will travel southeast to Winton, Queensland.

An interesting line of 152 organic station mated cows, with 88 calves at foot from Alice Springs NT, returned $2,780/head - heading to a buyer in Condobolin NSW. The cows of majority Angus and Charolais breeds were aged 2-11 years, averaged 511kg lwt, while the CAF averaged 131kg lwt.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 29^th April 2022