Weekly Cattle Comments - Week ending Friday 12th July

AuctionsPlus commercial cattle numbers fell again this week, decreasing by 9%, to 8,365 head offered.

However, the weekly indicators were all positive, with Value Over Reserve a standout, jumping ahead ahead $41 to average $117/head above set reserves.

Clearance rates improved 3 percentage points on last week to close the week at 81%.

The AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator increased 11c to 361 c/kg LW, while the benchmark steer indicator was steady to average $1,182/head.

There were some big gains this week, with Heifers 400kg+ fetching an average of $405/head more than the previous week to average $1,387 and PTIC Cows earning an average of $350/head on the previous week to average $1,767.

Processor/feedlotter activity dopped by 1% this week, with those buyers snapping up 8% of the offering. 

The biggest movement in listings was in Queensland, 1000 less head were offered than last week. Purchasing behaviour was similar across all states on AuctionsPlus.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard

Steers

Steer prices were largely positive this week, with price gains trending in the lighter weight categories and the heavy steers again being stung with losses week-on-week.

Steers 330-400kg increased an average of $209/head this week and recorded a clearance of 77%.

From Morven, NSW, a line of 74 Hereford steers aged 16 to 17 months old and weighing 375kg returned $1460/head, or 389c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Anakie, Victoria.

Heifers

Heifer prices were also mixed the week, with all categories in the green, except for the under 200kg and 330-400kg groups, which dropped an average of $122/head and $98/head respectively.

Heifers over 400kg fetched an average of an additional $405/head to $1,387 with a clearance of 100%, while the 280-330kg category sold for an average of an additional $173/head to $1,062 and an 86% clearance rate.

From Cassilis, NSW, a line of 64 Angus heifers aged 22 to 24 months old and weighing 396kg returned $1450/head, or 366c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Singleton, NSW.

Breeding stock

Lighter breeding stock categories recorded average head price losses week-on-week for SM Cows, SM Heifers and PTIC Heifers, but recorded solid gains in the PTIC Cows and SM Heifers and Cows, which rose by $350/head and $330/head respectively. 

From Bathurst, NSW, a line of 21 Angus heifers aged 34 to 36 months old and weighing 478kg returned $2000/head, or 418c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Goulburn, NSW.

Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, July 12, 2024.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices

AuctionsPlus Interactive Cattle Market Report