AuctionsPlus commercial cattle listings rose slightly to 17,205 head. Competition was subdued however, with a clearance of 54%, down 10 percentage points on last week.
Prices dipped slightly for benchmark steers weighing between 280-330kg, falling 6% to $1,131. Value over reserve dropped $5 to average $61.
The AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator, however, rose 11 points.
Most categories were either down or flat on a price per kilo basis, with the exception of sub-200kg steers, up 13% at a healthy clearance, and Heifers 200-280kg, up 5%.
PITC heifers saw the biggest gain — up 23% — but the lowest clearance at just 19%.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard
Steers 280-330kg registered a 33% larger offering of 2,373 head and averaged 1,131/head - down $78 from last week for a 58% clearance. Prices ranged from 250 - 438c and averaged 362c/kg lwt. From Nundle, NSW a line of 74 Angus steers aged 9 to 10 months and weighing 310kg returned $1360/head, or 438c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Wandoan, QLD.
Steers 200-280kg registered a 67% larger offering of 2,047 head and averaged $980/head — up $5 from last week for a 77% clearance. Prices ranged from 249 - 480c and averaged 423c/kg lwt. From Quirindi, NSW a line of 93 Hereford/Hereford/Angus steers aged 6 to 7 months and weighing 201kg returned $800/head, or 398c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Bayview, NSW.
Heifers 280-330kg registered a 37% smaller offering of 1,137 head and averaged $900/head — down $34 from last week for a 54% clearance. Prices ranged from 196 - 530c and averaged 308c/kg lwt. From Mitchell, QLD a line of 180 Santa Gertrudis Heifers aged 11 to 15 months and weighing 289kg returned $965/head, or 334c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Tamworth, NSW. From Leeville, NSW a line of 20 Brangus heifers aged 18 to 24 months old and weighing 324kg returned $1720/head, or 530c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Moore, QLD.
Heifers 330-400kg dropped by 8% to register 1,354 head and averaged $1,041/head — down $58 from last week for a 58% clearance. Prices ranged from 189 - 481c and averaged 293c/kg lwt. From Billa Billa, QLD a line of 16 Charolais cross Heifers aged 14 to 24 months old and weighing 355kg returned $940/head, or 265c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Inverell, NSW.
Last week there were nearly 3,000 PTIC Cows and Heifers up for sale, which enjoyed some momentum in terms of price and clearance. The number of PTIC articles halved this week, driven by a 61% drop in PTIC Heifers.
That category did see a nice price bump for those that did sell, up $308 from last week to average $1,663/head. Of the 805 head on offer only 19% sold, however. From Holbrook, NSW a line of 66 Angus heifers aged 19 to 21 months old and weighing 482kg returned $1880/head, or 390c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Deniliquin, NSW.
PTIC Cows registered a 21% smaller offering of 1,364 head and averaged $1,551/head — down $162 from last week for a 66% clearance. From Barraba, NSW a line of 79 Angus cows aged three years old and weighing 420kg returned $1880/head, or 447c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Glen innes, NSW.
Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 8th March 2024
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices
AuctionsPlus Interactive Cattle Market Report