Weekly Cattle Comments - Week ending Friday 26th April

AuctionsPlus commercial cattle listings fell by 27% to 15,568 head this week. The average Value Over Reserve dropped $4 to $56 and the clearance rate also fell 17 percentage points to 38% in a week that was disrupted by the ANZAC Day public holiday on Thursday. The AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator rose 3 points to 322, meanwhile benchmark steers 280-330kg were firm at $1,114.

The total offering of steers reached 5,138 head and heifers reached 5,022 head – with each category back around 2,000 head from the previous week. 

All states recorded reduced listings, apart from Tasmania, which had a very small uptick. Likewise all states recorded less purchases.

Processor activity fell from 7% of the market last week to 5% this week.

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

Steers

Steers received mixed prices compared to last week, with prices for steers weighing 330-400kg dropping $23/head to average $1,630, and a 45% clearance rate, but remaining firm or slightly increasing across the other categories. From Curban, NSW, a line of 17 Angus Steers, aged 9 to 12 months old and weighing 391kg, returned $1350/head, or 345c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Caringbah, NSW.

Heifers

Heifer prices were down across all weights this week except for the 280-330kg category, which recorded an increase of $22/head to $838, and a 31% clearance. From Warren, a line of 123 Charbray/Composite Heifers, aged 10 to 16 months old and weighing 375kg, returned $1050/head, or 280c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Dalby, QLD.

Breeding stock

There was a $494/head, or 80c/kg, increase in the average price of NSM Cows and Calves this week. PTIC cows also enjoyed a $57/head or 13c/kg, increase on last week. However, all other breeding stock categories recorded falls of more than $100/head. From Molong, NSW, one Highland cow aged five, and weighing 504kg, returned $4640/head, or 922c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Coolum Beach, QLD.

Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 26th April 2024

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

AuctionsPlus Angus Table

AuctionsPlus Queensland Table

AuctionsPlus Interactive Cattle Market Report