AuctionsPlus commercial cattle numbers lifted by 23% this week, with 12,903 head offered. However, demand eased compared to previous weeks, now sitting at 65%. Value over reserve continued to rise, averaging $122 above set reserves - $52 higher than the lowest VOR recorded in the past month. The AuctionsPlus Young Cattle indictor fell by 5c to average 754c/kg dw.
AuctionsPlus commercial cattle numbers lifted by 23% this week, with 12,903 head offered. However, demand eased compared to previous weeks, now sitting at 65%. Value over reserve continued to rise, averaging $122 above set reserves - $52 higher than the lowest VOR recorded in the past month. The AuctionsPlus Young Cattle indictor fell by 5c to average 754c/kg dw.
Passed-in lots accounted for 3,600 head, or 28% of the total offering. These lots received bidding activity but didn’t reach their set reserve rates and will be negotiated over the weekend and into next week secure a sale.
Post-sale updates were strong for last week’s sales, with the clearance rate rising by eight percentage points, from 76% to 84%.
Prices were mixed across the steer and heifer weight categories, with two up and two down for both sets of categories. Steers 400kg and above fell on a $/head basis by $20/head but lifted on a cents per kilo basis by 10c to average 401c/kg lw.
Breeding stock saw strong gains in the cow and calf categories, while joined cows experienced declines.
New South Wales listed 15% more than last week to total 7,305 head and achieved a 66% clearance rate, while Queensland listed 49% more than last week and was the second highest listing state at 3,455 head, achieving a 69% clearance rate. New South Wales did the bulk of the purchasing, securing 50% of the sold offering, followed by Queensland who picked up 31%.
Processor/feedlotter activity lifted noticeably, accounting for 12.3% of the sold offering. Buyers showed particular interest in females this week, with mid-weight heifers attracting significant interest, while heavier steers continue to attract consistent competition.
From Bishopsbourne, TAS a line of 15 Angus steers aged 11 - 12 months old and weighing 283kg returned $1,350/head, or 478c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Winnaleah, TAS.
From Table top, NSW a line of 108 Angus/Angus heifers aged 12 - 13 months old and weighing 290kg returned $1,420/head, or 490c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Gobarralong, NSW.
From Beaudesert, QLD a line of 7 Speckle Park/Speckle Park PTIC cows aged 4 - 6 years old and weighing 593kg returned $3,660/head, or 618c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Dungay, NSW.
READ MORE: Read this week's sheep and lamb report
Weekly Market Price Tables
AuctionsPlus Cattle Market Report
Editor's note: You may have noticed we've made some changes to our weekly cattle market report. Never before have APlus News readers had access to so much data - covering not only this week's sale, but four weeks worth of information, all in one interactive table.
AuctionsPlus commercial cattle numbers fell 23% this week, with the reduced yarding of 10,544 head retaining similar prices from the previous week. Value Over Reserve lifted $27 to reach $104 and the clearance rate was steady at 76%.
There were very few light steers and heifers offered this week, with these categories also experiencing average price decreases.
Breeding stock largely recorded an upswing in per head prices, particularly PTIC and SM heifers, even with low clearances.
Processor activity lifted to 6.25% from nearly 4% last week.
Queensland halved the number of cattle it offered this week and buyers from the state also purchased about 1000 less head compared to the previous week.
Highlights
From Mendooran, NSW, a line of 45 Angus steers aged 11 to 13 months old and weighing 393kg returned $1530/head, or 390c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Bodangora, NSW.
From Coonamble, NSW, a line of 28 Angus heifers aged 12 to 13 months old and weighing 373kg returned $1340/head, or 359c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Inverell, NSW.
From Murrindindi, Victoria, a line of one Angus cows aged five years old and weighing 604kg returned $2500/head, or 414c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Camperdown, Victoria.
AuctionsPlus commercial cattle numbers fell 3% this week, with the 13,672 head also experiencing moderate price decreases. The lighter end of the steer market recorded the strongest gains again this week, however heifers in all weight categories except one fetched reduced head values.
The dashboard may look destressing in all red but AuctionsPlus General Manager - Network Paul Holm reported this week's market reflected more normal market conditions, coming off an exceptional high result last week.
He also expected the clearance rate to continue to climb over the weekend, as post sale negotiations continue.
Processor activity dropped to 4% from nearly 11% last week, with the majority of interest in heifer lots, including one lot of PTIC heifers.
25% of all lots were purchased by inter-state buyers, seven percentage points higher than last week.
Highlights
From Bingara, NSW, a line of 66 Angus/Brangus steers aged sevent to 10 months old and weighing 317kg returned $1245/head, or 392c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Dorrigo Mountain, NSW.
From Bathurst, NSW, a line of 40 Angus heifers aged 11 to 12 months old and weighing 315kg returned $1150/head, or 365c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Blayney, NSW.
From Blackall, a line of 54 Santa Gertrudis cows aged four to five years old and weighing 569kg returned $2290/head, or 403c/kg lwt, and will travel to a buyer in Talwood, Queensland.
AuctionsPlus commercial cattle numbers lifted 41% this week, with the 14,075 head also securing moderate price increases. The lighter end of the steer and heifer market recorded the strongest gains and clearance rates for the second week in a row.
Value over reserve increased by $28 this week to average $104 above set reserves, as buyers had to push a bit harder to secure lots. The 280-330kg steer indicator was the only steer indicator lifted 2%, averaging $1,244/head, while the AuctionsPlus Young Cattle indicator lifted 5c to average 390c/kg lw.
Processor/feedlotter activity picked up again this week to 10.91%, with 1,246 head purchased.
Queensland was the largest listing state this week, with the 7,002 head, more than 2,000 extra compared to last week. The offering received some strong competition from both local and interstate buyers, with most of the offering selling between Queensland and NSW.
From West Kentish, Tasmania, a line of six Sim-Angus steers aged 16 to 17 months old and weighing 464kg returned $1910/head, or 412c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Penguin, Tasmania.
From Mandurama, NSW, a line of 94 Angus heifers aged 12 to 13 months old and weighing 328kg experienced some hot competition to return $1820/head, or 555c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Walcha, NSW.
From Baddaginnie, Victoria, a line of 21 Angus heifers aged 22 to 24 months old and weighing 475kg returned $1650/head, or 348c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Tarnook, Victoria.