Weekly Cattle Comments - 20.01.23

There was a steady offering through this week’s AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales, with the 12,247 head offered up 6% on last week. The offering was largely dominated by PTIC heifers and the heavy end of the young steer market, as the January price see-saw returned, with returns rising for 6-out-of-10 young cattle categories on last week.

Clearance rates for the week averaged 47% at the immediate conclusion of the auctions, with the smaller offering of light steers and heifers reaching between 65-78%. The traditional summer weather pattern of heat in the south and storm in the north looks set to continue into next week, with some producers through southern Queensland hoping the moisture impacting northern and coastal Queensland moves south in the coming weeks.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices

Within the steer category this week, the largest offering was for the 330-400kg lines, with the 1,113 head offered selling to a 53% clearance rate - averaging $1,663/head, up 17% on last week. From Running Stream, Central West NSW, a line of 63 Angus weaned steers aged 10-12 months weighing 361kg lwt returned $1,760/head. Across the Bass Strait in Carrick, Tasmania, a line of 31 Shorthorn feeder steers aged 15-16 months and weighing 385kg lwt returned $1,820/head.

Feeder steer demand remained steady for the week, with a 60% clearance rate at the immediate close of the auction for the 963 head offered. Ranging from 410c – 455c, and averaging 433c/kg lwt, 400kg+ steer prices were 20% below the corresponding week last year. On a $/head basis the category averaged $33 back from last week at $1,865/head. From Bathurst, NSW, a line of EU accredited Angus steers aged 17-18 months weighing 471kg lwt returned $2,020/head.

There was a smaller offering through the lighter lines, with 200-280kg steers averaging $221 higher on last week, at $1,397/head. From Lucindale, SA, a line of 92 Angus/Hereford weaner steers, weighing 230kg lwt, aged 6-7-months returned $1,220/head and will travel interstate to a buyer in Mitchell, Queensland. Another highlight included a line of 72 Angus steers from Moonie, Queensland, which weighed 264kg lwt, aged between 6-9 months, returning $1,455/head.

An offering of 778 280-330kg steers remained largely steady on last week, averaging $1,538/head – with a 65% clearance rate (compared to 81% for close to 1,300 head in the corresponding week in 2022). A line of 61 Angus steers aged 10-12 months from Running Stream, Central Western NSW, weighing 296kg lwt returned $1,610/head. Another highlight included a line of 72 Mundarra blood Angus steers from Blayney, NSW. Weighing 329kg lwt, the steers aged 9-11 months and returned $1,650/head.

Overall young heifer numbers were again down on last year, with the largest offering through the 330-400kg lines, at 955 head. The heavier categories slipped back on last week, with 330-400kg lines averaging $191 lower, at $1,516/head, while the 400kg+ lines dropped $71 for the week, to average $1,700/head. A line of Angus heifers from Moonie, Queensland, weighing 349kg lwt and aged 14-15-months returned $1,580/head. From Tumut, NSW, a line of 14 Angus future breeder heifers aged 18-20 months weighing 466kg lwt returned $1,900/head.

Light heifers were in thin supply, with 623 head of 200-280kg heifers averaging $8 lower on last week, at $1,156/head. A line of 66 Angus heifers from Moonie, Queensland, aged 14-15-months and weighing 278kg lwt returned $1,320/head. 280-330kg heifers averaged $42 higher this week, at $1,411/head – with a line of 8-14-month-old Santa Gertrudis/Droughtmaster heifers, out of Theodore, Queensland, weighing 315kg lwt returning $1,260/head.

Making up 19% of the market, PTIC heifers were in steady supply, at 2,281 head, albeit 10% less than the corresponding week in 2022. With only a 34% clearance rate at the sale end, buyers are being far more cautious in 2023, compared to the “restock at any cost” attitude of early 2022, when the clearance rate was closer to 90% and prices averaged $900/head higher. PTIC heifers this week average $2,244/head – down $494 on last week. A line of 24 Glencoe blood Angus heifers from Gippsland, Victoria, joined to Rennylea bulls aged 19-22 months and weighing 581kg lwt returned $3,280/head. From Tumut, NSW, a line of 48 Rennylea blood Angus PTIC heifers aged 17-18-months weighing 432kg returned $2,500/head.

1,450 PTIC cows were offered this week, averaging $165 higher on last week, at $2,353/head. From Laceby, Victoria, a line of Angus PTIC cows aged 34-35 months weighing 675kg lwt returned $3,650/head.

From Coonamble, NSW, a line of 65 NSM Charolais/Angus cows with CAF returned $3,120/head. The cows aged 6-9 years, averaged 703kg, while the 65 CAF aged 3-5 months weighed 254kg lwt. From Texas, Queensland, a line of 21 PTIC Angus cows aged 5-5.5 years old and weighing 526kg lwt with CAF returned $3,380/head - sold to a buyer in Inverell, NSW.

Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 20^th January 2022

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices