Market Comments

Weekly Cattle Comments - Week ending Friday 19th April

Written by AuctionsPlus | Apr 19, 2024 5:48:27 AM

 

AuctionsPlus commercial cattle listings lifted by 30% to 21,399 head. The larger offering was met by lower demand, with clearance dropping to 40%, Value Over Reserve fell by $30, to $94, and the AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator fell 39 points to 319. Benchmark steers 280-330kg fell slightly to $1,118.

The total offering of steers reached 7,394 head and heifers reached 7,453 head – a jump of 35% for each. Total breeding stock offered reached 5,899 head, a 28% increase in the from last week.

All states contributed to the total offering from Narngulu, WA, to Bridport, TAS, 4,257 kilometres away. There were active purchasers from all states, except NT.

Processor activity rose this week, taking 7% of the offering compared with less than 2% last week.

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

Steers

Steers received mixed prices compared to last week, with 0-200kg and 200-280kg down by $70/head and $68/head respectively. Steers weighing 330-400kg averaged $1,198/head across the 1,577 head offered, but clearance reached just 12%. Heavier steers 400kg and over averaged 349c/kg lwt, for a gain of 12c on last week.

Steers 280-330kg registered a larger offering of 2,844 head and averaged $1,118/head, up $17 from last week for a 45% clearance. Prices ranged from 193 - 417c and averaged 368c/kg lwt. From Mullaley, NSW a line of 68 Angus steers aged 10 to 11 months old and weighing 321kg returned $1240/head, or 386c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Tamworth, NSW.

 

 

Heifers

Heifer prices were down across all weights this week except for 400kg and over, which averaged $1,358/head, an increase of $122, and reached a clearance of 57%. Heifers 200-280kg posted a larger offering of 3,374 head and averaged $695/head down $58 from last week, for a 51% clearance. Prices averaged 281c/kg lwt. A significant offering of Ultrablack heifers was offered from Isisford, QLD, totalling 880 head. One of the lots was 160 Ultrablack heifers aged 8 to 16 months old and weighing 248kg, which returned $705/head, or 284c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Longreach, QLD.

 

Breeding stock

PTIC Cows registered a larger offering of 1,961 head and averaged $1,756/head up $32 from last week for a 33% clearance. From Gladstone, TAS, two even lines of 21 Angus cows aged 7 years old and weighing 529kg returned $1560/head and will travel to a buyer in Western Junction, TAS.

Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 19th April 2024

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

AuctionsPlus Angus Table

AuctionsPlus Queensland Table


AuctionsPlus Interactive Cattle Market Report