Numbers offered in AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales this week were down 26% on last week, at 7,840 head. The reduced supply assisted the strongest results for nearly two months, with higher averages and clearance rates for most categories, as vendors held back for improved conditions. Large dumps of rain across NSW and Victoria this week and the official declaration of a negative IOD event by the Bureau of Meteorology has largely assured producers of another good finish to the year.
Buyers seized the opportunity of lower prices and stepped into the market, causing a strong rebound in steer categories, with green ink across the board. Light and heavy heifers swapped places this week, with the two light categories falling and the three heaviest categories bouncing back. Mixed quality was largely responsible for some disparity between breeding female categories, as PTIC heifers fell back, while PTIC cows consolidated last week’s gains.
Light steers rebounded the most on last week, jumping $435, to average $1,285/head. The 1,239 head of 200-280kg sold to a robust 96% clearance, increasing $133 on last week, to average $1,472/head. From Yass, NSW, two even lines of 44 Angus steers aged 10-12-months-old and averaging 276kg lwt were offered as run-out-the-gate and returned $1,825/head – headed for Warrnambool, Victoria.
280-330kg steers averaged $1,787/head – up $43 on last week, with 97% clearance of the small offering of 354 head. From Toobeah, Southern Queensland, a line of 39 Charolais/Charolais cross steers aged 10-12-months-old and weighing 317kg lwt returned $1,720/head - $270 above reserve.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices
The 575 head of 330-400kg steers increased $261, to average $2,055/head. The offering of 400kg+ steers increased to 561, achieving a 94% clearance – increasing $102, to $2,149/head. From Woomargama, NSW, a line of 36 Angus steers aged 16-17-months-old and weighing 376kg lwt returned $2,180/head, or 580c/kg lwt.
Lighter heifers sold cheaper this week, with the 0-200kg category falling $93, to $1,050/head, and the 200-280kg category falling $71, to $1,426/head – with a 78% clearance of the 1,202 head offered. From Winton, Western Queensland, a line of 152 Charbray/Charbray cross heifers aged 6-16-months-old and averaging 253.5kg lwt returned $1,350/head - $350 above reserve.
Tighter supplies of the three heaviest heifer categories helped prices surge on last week. 280-330kg heifers averaged $367 higher on last week, at $1,953/head, with a 93% clearance rate. From Singleton, NSW, a line of 60 Angus heifers aged 9-11-months old and weighing 307kg lwt returned the top price of $2,430/head, or 793c/kg lwt.
The 330-400kg category was also stronger this week, with the 384 head offered selling to 72% clearance and averaging $1,935/head – up $298 on last week. From Macorna, Victoria, a line of 18 Limousin/Angus cross heifers aged 12-13-months-old and weighing 356kg lwt returned $1,800/head, or 506c/kg lwt. 400kg+ heifers averaged $2,240/head, up $380 on the previous week, selling to a 91% clearance rate.
Results in the breeding female categories were mixed, which was largely representative of the quality on offer. Limited supplies supported higher clearance rates for all categories. A smaller offering of 915 PTIC heifers achieved 52% clearance, compared to 21% last week – averaging $178 lower, at $2,148/head. From Augathella, Western Queensland, a line of 62 Droughtmaster PTIC heifers joined to Brangus and Ultrablack bulls, aged 16-24-months-old and weighing 362kg lwt, returned $1,800/head.
PTIC cows experienced the highest week-on-week jump of any category, with support from some sought-after breeding lines. The 721 head offered achieved a 69% clearance and averaged $496 higher, to $2,760/head. From Poolaijelo, Victoria, two even lines of 18 three-year-old Angus PTIC cows, joined to Speckle Park bulls and weighing 500kg lwt, returned $3,200/head.
From Ashford, NSW, a line of 39 Angus cows with 39 calves sired by Angus bulls returned $3,920/head. The cows, aged 22-24-months-old, weighed an average 478kg lwt, while the calves ranged from 2-6-weeks-old.
NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 5th August 2022
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