Weekly Cattle Comments - 10.06.22

Offerings in AuctionsPlus’ commercial cattle sales decreased slightly this week at 18,817 head – down 13% in line with the seasonal trend as we settle into winter. Cold and wet conditions again contributed to mixed results across the offering, with most categories easing down. Selective buying continued as producers balanced confidence in the season for the incoming spring with reduced pasture growth rates during a cold winter.

The offering of 200-280kg steers was a major contributor once again with 3,070 head going up for sale. Prices were down $95 on last week to average $1,736/head while the overall clearance rate climbed to 75%. From Inglewood, Queensland, a line of 122 Red Angus weaned steers aged 6-9-months-old and weighing 248kg lwt, returned $2,010/head.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices

With a reduced offering of 1,676 head, 280-330kg steers regained some of the losses of the previous week to average $2,036/head – up $108. From Gelliondale, Victoria, 28 Angus weaned steers aged 9-10-months-old and weighing an average 325kg lwt returned $2,170/head.

The heavy steer category was a similar story with 1,025 head offered lower than the 1,489 the week before. Prices for the category increased $104 on last week to average $2,185/head while clearance rates were lower at 50%. The small offering of 400kg+ steers averaged $2,270/head – back $179 on last week. From Muttaburra, Queensland, 133 Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster Cross feeder steers aged 17-20-months-old and weighing 409kg lwt returned $2,120/head.

The offering of heifer categories was stable, but the results were mixed, while overall clearance rates remained subdued. The slightly lower offering of 280-330kg heifers was sold into a stronger market with average price increasing $62 to $1,613/head and the clearance rate increasing slightly to 53% from 48% last week. A line of 47 Angus unweaned heifers from Glen Innes, NSW aged 8-9-months-old and weighing 255kg lwt returned $1,780/head.

A larger offering of 280-330kg heifers also regained some of the losses from last week to average $1,873/head – up $165. From Blackwater, Queensland, 120 Hereford backgrounder heifers aged 13-19-months-old and weighing 300kg lwt returned $1,780/head.

The heaviest heifer categories fell back further from last week with 330-400kg heifers averaging $1,950/head, down $131, and 400kg+ heifers averaging $2,359/head – down $79. From Goornong, Victoria, 21 Angus weaned heifers, aged 10-11-months-old and weighing 344kg lwt, returned $2,420/head.

PTIC lines dominated the categories of proven breeders accounting for 23% of the offering. Buyers remain highly selective with subdued clearance rates and lower prices recorded for most categories. PTIC heifer offerings increased to 3,455 head from 2,740 the week before. The influx caused prices to fall to $2,557/head – down $144, while the clearance rate also eased lower to 43%. From Albury, NSW, 14 Angus PTIC heifers topped the category at $3,350/head. The heifers were joined to Angus bulls and weighed 573kg lwt at 25-months-old.

PTIC cows bucked the trend to average $2,831/head – up $66 recovering the losses from last week plus some. The reduced offering of 1,539 also experienced a lower clearance rate of 52% - down from 81% in the previous week, reinforcing the selective nature of current buying activity. From Clermont, Queensland, a line of 60 Droughtmaster PTIC Cows aged 5-7-years-old and weighing 588kg lwt were joined to Droughtmaster bulls - returning $2,810/head.

From Currabubula, NSW, 15 Angus and Angus Cross NSM Cows ranging in age from 2-5 years and weighing 502kg lwt topped the category at $4,080/head. The 15 calves at foot were sired by Limousin and Angus bulls weighing an average 77kgs lwt.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 10th June 2022

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices