Weekly Cattle Comments - 09.04.21

A disrupted and short-selling week failed to dampen the surge in cattle offered exclusively through AuctionsPlus this week, with total numbers hitting 19,631 head – up 167% on the previous week. Drying paddocks, changing seasons and high prices contributed to the additional numbers, along with the significant backlog of cattle that were unable to be marketed in the previous weeks.

With the surge in numbers, prices declined for 7 out of 10 young cattle categories this week, while there were some excellent breeding lines offered. While prices for light steers less than 200kg fell back nationally, an indicative line of 119 Droughtmaster cross weaned steers from Quilpie, QLD, ranging from 90kg to 277kg, averaging 172.6kg/head, sold to $1,220/head – equating to an average of 1,344c/kg dressed.

For the larger populated medium and heavyweight lines, steers 280-330kg averaged $42 higher this week, at $1,650/head. In contrast, both the 200-280kg and 330-400kg categories declined, back $146 and $35 on last week, at $1,402/head and $1,681/head, respectively. 46 Angus steers, from Mangoplah, NSW, sold to $1,890/head - the 11–13-month-old steers averaged 361.9kg/head liveweight, equating to 972.7c/kg dressed.

The largest category of young heifers, 280-330kg, averaged $98 cheaper this week, at $1,492/head, with a somewhat subdued clearance rate of 67% for the 2,748 head offered. From Naracoorte, SA, 50 Angus weaned heifers, 8-9 months old, averaging 311.4kg/head liveweight, sold to $1,660/head – or 1,055c/kg dressed.

There were some considerable supply fluctuations within the proven breeding categories this week, with some very small numbers, but excellent quality, for most listed categories. However, for both SM heifers and PTIC heifers there was a considerable offering, with 3,116 head and 2,933 head, respectively. PTIC heifers averaged this week $42/head higher, at $2,443/head, with a 60% clearance rate, while the SM heifers averaged $1,488/head, at a 54% clearance rate.

Indicative from the north, 216 composite/Brahman SM heifers out of Julia Creek sold to $1,090/head – averaging 241kg liveweight and 16-21 months old. In geographical contrast, from King Island, TAS, 48 NSM Angus heifers, averaging 413.8kg/head, sold to $2,020/head.

40 SM Cows with CAF out of Blackville, NW Slopes and Plains of NSW sold to $2,660/head. The Droughtmaster cross line averaged 469kg/head liveweight, ranged from 2-11 years old, with fat score 2. Comparatively, 23 NSM heifers and calves out of Gilgandra, NSW averaged $2500/head – with the Santa cross heifers averaging 436kg/head liveweight, at 20-26 months of age.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 9th April, 2021

For more categories, please go to:
Cattle Averages 09/04/2021

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