Weekly Cattle Comments - 26.05.23 (with NEW Interactive Reporting)

Commercial cattle listings on AuctionsPlus totaled 14,917 head – down 21% from last week. The fall in listings was driven by a 48% reduction in offerings out of Queensland. The reduced offering supported higher prices for most categories of Queensland cattle and a 50% clearance rate compared to 38% clearance nationally. Value over reserve averaged $103 while clearance rate was flat week-on-week. Buyers remain highly selective on breeding females with higher prices and subdued clearance rates, while demand was weak for young cattle despite smaller offerings.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices
Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices
Report: Interactive Market Dashboard - NEW

Steers

Steers weighing 200-280kg registered 2,103 head and averaged $959/head – down $109 from last week for a 48% clearance rate. Prices ranged from 249 – 516c and averaged 393c/kg lwt. From Tenterfield, NSW, a line of 85 F1 Wagyu/Angus steers aged 6-10 months old and weighing 232kg returned the top price of $1,200/head, or 516c/kg lwt.

The 280-330kg steer category registered 1,476 head, with prices slipping $97 to average $1,113/head. Clearance rate reached 54% while per kilogram prices ranged from 196 – 414c and averaged 374c/kg lwt. From Cloncurry, North Queensland, a line of 219 Droughtmaster steers aged 6-12 months old and weighing 298kg returned $1,170/head, or 393c/kg lwt.

Heifers

Heifers weighing 200-280kg registered 1,345 head and averaged $793/head – down $6 from last week for a 68% clearance rate. Prices ranged from 247 – 497c and averaged 344c/kg lwt. From Binalong, NSW, a line of 40 Angus heifers aged 8-9 months old and weighing 279kg returned $940/head, or 336c/kg lwt.

The 330-400kg heifer category registered 348 head and averaged $1,147/head – flat on last week. Prices ranged from 283 – 458c and averaged 318c/kg lwt, while clearance reached 45%. From Hawkesdale, Victoria, a line of 50 Angus heifers aged 13-14 months old and weighing 338kg returned $1,200/head, or 355c/kg lwt and will travel to a buyer in South Australia.

Breeding Stock

Tighter supply of breeding females supported improved prices this week, while clearance rates remain subdued as ‘cherry picking’ buying behavior continues. PTIC heifers registered 2,282 head, 14% lower than last week, while prices averaged $1,606/head – up $115 on last week. From Dunedoo, NSW, a line of 19 EU accredited Shorthorn PTIC heifers joined to Shorthorn bulls, aged 22-24 months old and weighing 486kg returned $1,720/head.

PTIC cow listings fell by 41% to register 1,746 head. The smaller offering helped prices bounce back by $157 to average $1,769/head. From Gladstone, Tasmania, two lines of a total 41 Angus PTIC cows joined to Angus bulls, aged seven years old and weighing 700kg returned $2,040/head.

Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 26^th May 2023

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices

AuctionsPlus Interactive Cattle Market Report