Weekly Cattle Comments - 21.10.22

Listings for AuctionsPlus weekly commercial cattle sales were resilient this week against the backdrop of logistical disruptions due to flooding and road closures. Total listings increased 12% on last week, with 15,187 head offered.
Increased listings of heifers and breeding stock were the key contributors to the higher supply, while steers numbers fell 25% from last week – possibly suggesting that producers have grown tired of holding onto ready-to-sell females.

Prices were generally higher this week, while results were mixed across some categories. Average value over reserve experienced a 25% jump on last week, to a record high $254/head, while clearance rates edged higher to 79%. PTIC heifers were the highlight of the sale, with the 2,762 head achieving both one of the highest weekly listings and highest clearance rates.

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

Across the steer categories this week lower listings supported higher prices for four-out-of-five categories. Listings of light steers were back 7% at 250 head, while prices averaged $966/head. Prices jumped $235 to average $1,994/head across the 919 head of 200-280kg steers offered, while clearance reached 88%. From Rolleston, Central Queensland, four even lines of a total 329 Santa Gertrudis steers aged 5-10 months old and weighing 258kg lwt returned $2,020/head, or 784c/kg lwt.

The 1,426 head listing of 280-330kg steers was back 22% on last week, which helped prices rise $97 to average $2,171/head - scoring a 100% clearance rate. From Orange, Central Western NSW, a line of 12 Angus steers aged 12 months old and weighing 308kg lwt returned $2,250/head - $250 over the reserve price. It was a similar story for 330-400kg steers, with the 1,157 head listing back 33% from last week, with average prices hitting $2,293/head – up $94 for a 73% clearance. From Furner, Southeast SA, a line of 85 Angus steers aged 13-15 months old and weighing 367kg lwt returned $2,370/head, or 645c/kg lwt.

Heavy steers registered 849 head this week, as clearance for the category reached 68% and prices increased $19, to average $2,325/head, or 528c/kg lwt. From Mortlake, Southwest Victoria, a line of 73 Friesian steers aged 18-19 months old and weighing 476kg lwt returned $1,880/head, or 395c/kg lwt.

In contrast to the steers, this week heifer listings increased 23%, which put downward pressure on prices for three-out-of-five categories. Light heifers averaged $952/head across the 321 head offered, reaching a 99% clearance. 200-280kg heifers were the only exception to increasing listings, with numbers offered down 27%, to 961 head. Prices for the category averaged $1,780/head – up $297 on last week. From Rolleston, Central Queensland, a line of 40 Santa Gertrudis heifers aged 5-10 months old and weighing 236kg lwt returned $2,000/head - $590 over the reserve price.

Listings of 280-330kg heifers increased to 1,116 head, while prices averaged $1,924/head – down $75 from last week for an 81% clearance. From Goornong, Northern Victoria, a line of 15 Murray Grey heifers aged 10-11 months old and weighing 305kg lwt returned $1,810/head, or 593c/kg lwt. The 330-400kg category was a similar story, with the increased listing of 1,848 head averaging $2,264/head – down $94 from last week for an 80% clearance. From Holbrook, NSW Riverina, a line of 83 Angus heifers aged 12-13 months old and weighing 342kg lwt returned $2,360/head - $210 over the reserve price.

Selective buying was prevalent in the 400kg+ heifer category. In stark contrast to last week, listings doubled to 933 head, while clearance rate halved to 45%. The result was an average price of $2,525/head – up $143 on last week. From Coonabarabran, NSW Northwest Slopes and Plains, a line of 14 Shorthorn heifers aged 11-13 months old and weighing 436kg lwt returned the top price for the category of $3,080/head - $880 over the reserve price.

Listings of breeding stock increased 70% this week, heavily influenced by large lines of northern cattle out of Queensland. PTIC heifers were the highlight of this week’s commercial cattle sale with several features. A significant listing of 1,600 composite PTIC heifers were offered by AJM Pastoral near Blackall, Western Queensland. The heifers were offered in 19 B-double lots, with 16-out-of-19 lots selling to an average $2,144/head.

A rare listing of PTIC heifers, artificially inseminated with female sexed semen were offered by JAD Agriculture near Yeoval, Central Western NSW. Follow the link for further analysis of the premium achieved by the PTIC heifers AI’d with sexed female semen.

Overall, a huge listing of 2,762 PTIC heifers averaged $2,387/head, for an impressive 91% clearance rate. From Wagga Wagga, NSW Riverina, two even lines of a total 41 Angus PTIC heifers aged 19-23 months old and weighing 441kg lwt returned $2,900/head - $200 over the reserve price.

Listings of PTIC cows were steady at 614 head and sold for an average $2,759/head – up $162 on last week for a 48% clearance. From Woodside, Gippsland Victoria, a line of 35 Angus PTIC cows aged 3-4 years old and weighing 589kg lwt returned $3,200/head.

Listings of NSM cows and calves increased significantly, with 703 head offered averaging $3,795/head – up $35 on last week and reaching an 83% clearance. From Dubbo, Central Western NSW, a line of 19 Angus NSM cows with 19 Angus calves at foot retuned $4,210/head. The cows were three years old and weighed an average of 554kg lwt, while the calves were 2-6-weeks old and weighed an average of 106kg lwt.

NOTE: Prices as at 2pm, Friday 21^st October 2022

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices