It was a subdued first week of July offerings through AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales this week, with the 13,010 head offered down 31% on last week. With overall market sentiment largely reflecting the recent weather, dull and needing some heat, excellent quality continues to sell, especially through the PTIC lines
Wet, weaker, and worried could sum up the past week in the cattle market. Wet conditions again caused massive disruptions to the east coast of NSW and some inland regions. The weaker cattle market attracted some attention, with the EYCI slipping briefly below 1,000c/kg cwt - albeit that’s below a level that only 12-months ago was yet to be breached. However, it’s the attention and worry about the FMD outbreak in Indonesia that continues to create growing concerns for producers and the livestock industry.
The 200-280kg category was again the largest across the young steer lines, with the 1,541 head offered selling to an improved 60% clearance rate. Prices for the 200-280kg steers averaged $13 higher on last week, at $1,567/head. From Moonie, Southern Queensland, a line of 78 Brahman steers aged 7-11-months-old and weighing 263kg lwt, returned $1,680/head.
280-330kg steers averaged $29 higher for the week, at $1,928/head, with a 70% clearance rate for the 1,091 head offered. From Omeo, Victoria, a line of 80 Angus steers aged 10-11-months-old and weighing 305kg lwt returned $2,030/head, or 665c/kg lwt. A reduced offering of 330-400kg steers averaged $2,137/head – back $29 on last week. From Wagga Wagga, NSW, a line of 29 Angus steers aged 13-15-months-old and weighing 349kg lwt returned $2,114/head, destined for Leongatha, Victoria.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices
All young heifer categories were lower this week, with the sharpest fall for 200-280kg lines, which averaged $256 lower on last week, at $1,392/head – with a 61% clearance rate for the 1,447 head offered. From Woolsthorpe, Victoria, a line of 70 Angus weaned heifers aged 9-10-months-old and weighing 259kg lwt returned the top price of $1,760/head, or 679c/kg lwt.
280-330kg heifers averaged $137 lower this week, at $1,703/head. From Barnawartha, Victoria, 10 Limousin heifers aged 10-11-months-old and weighing 283kg lwt returned $1,860/head, purchased by a buyer from Berrigan, NSW. From Wandoan, Queensland, a line of 80 Charolais/Charolais cross heifers aged 12-20-months-old and weighing 348.5kg lwt returned $1,800/head.
A line of 57 Angus verified heifers from Gloucester, NSW, returned $2,280/head, or 538c/kg lwt. The heifers were pregnancy tested empty, aged 21-23-months-old and weighed an average 424kg lwt.
Given the seasonal and market conditions, the final prices for proven joined lines were volatile this week, with the large price movements in both directions reflective of bloodlines, regions, and buyers’ willingness to secure lines.
Some excellent quality lines helped to give the PTIC heifer category a bounce this week, averaging $358 higher, at $2,591/head. Ranging from $1,960-$3,500, the seasonally smaller offering of 1,788 head sold to a 51% clearance rate. From Walcha, NSW, a line of 146 Angus PTIC heifers, split into three even lots as run-out-the-gate, returned $2,850/head. The heifers were joined to Angus bulls, ranged from 21-22-months-old and averaged 437kg lwt.
PTIC cows were the largest single category this week, with the 2,225 head offered hitting a 54% clearance rate. Prices averaged $54 lower for the week, at $2,650/head. From Glenmorgan, Queensland, a line of 63 Santa Gertrudis PTIC cows joined to Angus bulls aged 4-7-years-old and weighing 580kg lwt returned $3,000/head - $500 over the reserve price.
From Pakenham, Victoria, 13 Angus cows with 14 Angus calves at foot returned $3,480/head - headed for Blayney, NSW. The cows were aged 2-3-years-old and weighed 504kg lwt, while the calves were aged 1-2-months old and averaged 75kg lwt.
NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 8th July 2022