AuctionsPlus commercial cattle listings lifted to 16,839 head, increasing by 11% in the week ending 21st June 2024. The larger offering was met with mixed competition as clearance fell to 52%, while value over reserve lifted by $74 to average $108.
The benchmark steer price fell 2% while the AYCI experienced a 10% fall. There was a big spread in the listing locations for the week with most regions across the eastern seaboard seeing stock coming forward, perhaps in the lead up to the end of the financial year.
The sold at auction premium continues to be strong as the month of June rolls on, with the prices received during the auction holding above 12.5%, while the gap between weaners and feeders grew 6 cents this week, with feeders now 35c/kg less than the weaner prices this week.
Processor/feedlotter activity improved slightly but remained subdued with 5.95% or 518 of the lots offered being secured by processor/feedlot buyers. These lots were mainly Angus steers ranging from 280-400kg. Agents and assessors also noted that there was some activity on SM and PTIC cows from processors.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard
Steer prices were mixed with lighter steers 200-330kg receiving reasonably similar pricing to last week with clearance rates above this week’s sale average. Heavy steers within 330.1-400kg increased in number by 22% week on week and improved 15 c/kg lwt, while 400kg+ categories reduced in number and price with a fall of 52c/kg lwt.
From Coleraine, VIC, a line of 80 Angus steers aged eight to 10 months old and weighing 217kg returned $850/head, or 393c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Deniliquin, NSW.
Overall the heifer offering increased, especially in the light heifer categories. In the 200-280kg heifer category, listings increased this week by 59% with prices suffering as a result, back $189/head, which represents 86c/kg. These light heifers, often seen as the bellwether of confidence will be closely looked at as the season continues. Interestingly their older sisters at 280-330kg saw a small increase in listings and an improvement in price, up by 29c/kg. Very few heifers 400kg + were listed with prices flat on last week.
From Inverleigh, Victoria, a line of 73 Angus heifers aged 11 to 12 months old and weighing 312kg returned $940/head, or 302c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Hamilton, QLD.
There were similar numbers of both PTIC heifers and PTIC cows to previous weeks. PTIC cows dipped slightly week on week to average $1596, with clearance rates holding 68%, however PTIC heifers lost ground this week with a low clearance of 25% and a price reduction of $291/ head. Cows and calves also sold to subdued competition with SM cows and calves topping $2200.
From Orange, a line of 27 Angus cows aged three to eight years old and weighing 559kg returned $2200/head, or 394c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Bathurst, NSW.
Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 21st June 2024
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices
AuctionsPlus Angus Table
AuctionsPlus Interactive Cattle Market Report
