For the fourth consecutive week AuctionsPlus cattle listings surged above 20,000 head. Given the recent flow of cattle supply onto the market, steady numbers are expected to continue for the last two remaining commercial cattle sales of 2022. The first week of December has seen a total of 21,126 head of cattle offered online - a 4% contraction from last week.
While the sustained higher volume of cattle has seen clearance rates dwindle, premium prices are still attracting resilient bidding activity across isolated lines of quality cattle. Price trends for the week continued to trend lower as the volatility of pricing weighed heavily on buyer sentiment. Further indicators of market sentiment – clearance, and value over reserve, aligned with broader market trends. Overall clearance rose slightly on last week albeit still subdued, while value over reserve contracted for the second consecutive week.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Weekly Cattle Prices
Steer results saw all five categories register price trends ease on last week, with mid-weight steers recording the largest reduction in price. Clearance rates sat higher on last week, particularly across the lighter categories, however overall sentiment remained subdued.
Steers weighing under 200kg were sparse this week, with 177 head offered. The category sold to an 86% clearance with prices averaging $994/head – back $185 from last week. Steers weighing 200-280kg registered a $35 decline on last week to average $1,457/head across the 1,519 head offered. From Cloncurry, Queensland a line of 90 Santa Gertrudis steers aged 10-20 months, weighing 244kg lwt returned $1,720/head to a buyer in Townsville, Queensland.
Steers weighing 280-330kg had a total of 1,725 head offered which sold to a 64% clearance. The category registered the smallest price contraction across the steer categories this week, easing $24 to average $1,826/head. A large run consisting of 99 Angus weaner steers aged 8-9 months from Singleton, NSW returned $1,790/head.
The largest steer category for the week saw a total of 2,741 head of 330-400kg steers offered online. Clearance rates reached 54% while prices eased $60 to average $1,892/head. An indicative line consisting of 180 Angus steers split across two even lines from Millicent, SA returned $1,850/head. Weighing 366kg lwt the 12-16-month-old steers will travel to Victoria.
Heavier steers weighing over 400kg continued to sell to reduced demand as clearance rates reached 50% across the 1,750 head offered. Prices eased back further again this week, decreasing by $26 to average $2,146/head. From Orange, NSW a line of 53 Angus feeder steers aged 15-16 months and weighing 472kg lwt returned $2,305/head and will travel to Mansfield, Victoria.
Heifer categories followed a similar trend to the steers as four of the five categories registered easing prices on last week. Heifers weighing 200-280kg registered an uptick in price this week, gaining $62 to average $1,360/head. The offering of 1,285 head grew 5% on last week and sold to a clearance of 62%- the highest across the heifer categories. From Tintinara, SA a line of 32, 8-9-month-old Angus/Shorthorn heifers weighing 279kg lwt returned $1,600/head and will travel to Keith, SA.
Heifers weighing 280-330kg registered a significant downward price shift, back $167 to average $1,635/head. The 1,072 head offering which contracted 9% on last week sold to a 45% clearance. A line of 56 Droughtmaster future breeders aged 14-19 months from Moranbah, Queensland weighing 320kg lwt returned $1,830/head.
A total of 2,155 heifers weighing 330-400kg were listed this week with the category averaging $1,971/head – easing $88 on last week. From Surat, Queensland a large run consisting of 131 Angus/Droughtmaster 10-14-month-old heifers weighing 391kg lwt returned $2,160/head.
Heifers weighing over 400kg sold to a subdued clearance of 28% this week. The 801 head listed averaged $2,065/head – back $48 from last week. A line of Angus NSM future breeder heifers weighing 412kg lwt and aged 12-13-months from Purnim, Victoria returned $2,400/head and will travel interstate to Scone, NSW.
Breeding stock numbers accounted for 35% of total listings this week with mixed results returned across the categories.
PTIC heifers were the largest category with 3,310 head offered. Following a $328/head rise last week, prices kicked higher again this week with the category averaging $2,876/head – up $152. From Glenn Innes, NSW a line of 22 Angus PTIC heifers aged 24-25 months, weighing 534kg lwt returned $3,500/head and will travel interstate to Queensland.
A total of 1,040 head of PTIC cows were offered this week with the offering averaging $2,746/head - back $50 on last week with clearance rates reaching 37%. From Henty, NSW a line of 17 PTIC Angus cows aged 39-40 months, weighing 642kg lwt returned $3,700/head to a buyer in Scone, NSW.
SM cows and calves registered a 26% increase in listings this week with the 1,316 head offering returning a clearance of 40%. Prices for the category rose by $746 to average $3,604/head as several quality lines were met with increased bidding activity. From St George, Queensland a line of 42 Droughtmaster heifers aged 1-2-years with CAF aged 1-6 months weighing 120kg lwt returned $3,520/head. Joined to Angus/Santa Gertrudis bulls the heifers weigh an average of 530kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in Thargomindah, Queensland.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices