Listings in the AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales this week totalled 22,973 head, back 8% from last week’s surge of market ready cattle, but still the third highest for 2022.Producers are happy to continue sending large lines of cattle to market, while buyers have taken a more cautious approach, carefully considering several challenges at hand.
The combination of extenuating circumstances across many key cattle regions is weighing heavily on the market, with clearance rates and average value over reserve both subdued this week. Slightly lower offerings for select steer and heifer categories relieved some pressure, whereas increased breeding stock listings provided buyers with plenty of options. Clearance rates are expected to rise with post-sale negotiations over the next 48 hours.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices
Some quality steer lines helped prices increase across four-out-of-five categories, while clearance rates were generally lower. A larger offering of 324 light steers recovered some of last week’s losses to average $914/head for a 61% clearance rate. Listings of steers weighing 200-280kg also increased to 1,759 head and averaged $1,576/head – up $87 on last week for a 75% clearance. From Ellerston, NSW, a line of 28 Wagyu/Angus steers aged 8-12 months old and weighing 274kg lwt returned $2,580/head, or 941c/kg lwt.
A slightly smaller offering of 2,329 steers weighing 280-330kg was met with weaker demand this week, averaging $1,792/head – down $141 from last week with a 42% clearance rate. From Penshurst, Victoria, a line of 19 Angus steers aged 12-13 months old and weighing 310kg lwt returned $2,110/head - $160 over reserve. 330-400kg steers recovered most of last week’s losses to average $2,201/head across the 2,314 head offered. From Tamworth, NSW, a line of 26 Hereford steers aged 12-13 months old and weighing 386kg lwt returned $2,010/head, or 520c/kg lwt.
The heavy steer offering increased to 1,496 head this week, as warmer temperatures and strong pasture growth assisted more steers to reach feeder weights. Average prices increased $108 to average $2,399/head for a 41% clearance rate. From Carabost, NSW, a line of 40 Angus steers aged 14-15 months old and weighing 458kg lwt returned $2,480/head, or 541c/kg lwt. The steers will travel to Bena, Victoria.
Heifer categories saw red ink this week with prices across four-out-of-five categories falling as the market struggled to absorb the higher volumes of the last two weeks. Light heifers averaged $844/head across the 291 head offered to register an 83% clearance rate.
A 46% drop in the number of 200-280kg heifers relieved some pressure and allowed prices to kick $90 higher to average $1,451/head across the 1,305 head offered. From Pentland, Queensland, a line of 100 Simmental/Simmental cross heifers aged 6-11 months old and weighing 227kg lwt returned $1,200/head – travelling to Glen Innes NSW. 280-330kg heifers on the other hand experienced a larger offering of 1,439 head, with prices averaging $1,942/head – down $6 for a 76% clearance rate. From Kingston, SA, a line of 55 Angus heifers aged 8-9 months old and weighing 312kg lwt returned $2,200/head. The heifers are destined for Ben Lomond, NSW.
330-400kg heifers slipped further this week, with the 2,144 head averaging $2,019/head – down $220 from last week to reach a 65% clearance rate. From Tambo, Queensland, a line of 30 Santa Gertrudis heifers aged 12-14 months old and weighing 336kg lwt returned $2,070/head - $250 over reserve. The offering of heavy heifers increased to 1,127 head this week and averaged $2,237/head – down $220 for a subdued clearance rate of 43%. From Delungra, NSW, a line of 27 Angus heifers aged 13-15 months old and weighing 415kg lwt returned $2,400/head, or 579c/kg lwt.
Breeding stock numbers were higher again this week while quality was varied. Buyers were spoiled for choice when it came to PTIC heifers this week. From a high base last week, listings increased further to 4,040 head. Prices consequently slipped $175 to average $2,572/head. From Buchan, Victoria, a line of 22 Angus PTIC heifers aged 27-28 months old and weighing 526kg lwt returned $3,440/head - $440 over reserve.
In contrast, listings of PTIC cows were back almost 30% this week to total 746 head. This supported a $377 increase in prices to an average $2,978/head and 70% clearance rate. From Orange, NSW, a line of 33 Angus PTIC cows aged three-years-old and weighing 570kg lwt returned $3,420/head - $160 over reserve.
From Armidale, NSW, a line of 20 Angus NSM cows with 21 calves at foot returned $4,010/head. The cows were aged three-to-seven years old and weighed 623kg lwt, while the calves sired by Angus bulls were aged 2-12 weeks old and weighed 112kg lwt.
NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 18th November 2022
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices