Weekly Cattle Comments - 3.03.23

Listings in AuctionsPlus weekly commercial cattle sales hit 15,632 head this week – up 29% on last week. Increased offerings pushed the market lower this week, reflected by lower value over reserve and overall clearance rate. Higher slaughter rates and rebuilt herds continue to reduce competition between buyers and place downward pressure on prices, while demand remains weak due to seasonal and economic uncertainty.

Listings remain lower than the same week for the previous three years due to high feed availability and lower prices causing producers to hold stock on farm for longer and take through to heavier weights. However, listings of weaner steers and heifers increased this week.

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

The three heaviest steer categories slipped lower this week with higher supply adding pressure to an already weaker market. 200-280kg steers found some support, averaging $69 higher at $1,248/head despite listings more than doubling to 1,835 head. From Guyra, NSW, a line of 56 Angus steers aged 6-8 months old and weighing 273kg lwt returned $1,370/head, or 502c/kg lwt.

The 330-400kg steer category registered 1,990 head and averaged $1,492/head – down $42 on last week for a 49% clearance rate. From Mount Gambier, SA, a line of 106 Angus steers aged 11-12 months old and weighing 368kg lwt returned $1,710/head, or 464c/kg lwt to a buyer in Victoria.

Heifer listings increased slightly this week with falls in the number of medium and heavy heifers outweighed by increases in light heifers. The middle three categories saw average prices slip while heavy heifers improved on last week.

Listings of 200-280kg heifers increased to 1,208 head and averaged $1,039/head – down $198 from last week for a 24% clearance rate. From Goondiwindi, Queensland, a line of 43 Angus heifers aged 5-7 months old and weighing 232kg lwt returned $1,065/head, or 460c/kg lwt.

The 280-330kg category registered 834 head, 19% lower than last week and averaged $1,169/head – down $123 for a 77% clearance rate. From Mansfield, Victoria, a line of 20 Poll Hereford heifers aged 10-11 months old and weighing 293kg lwt returned $1,040/head, or 355c/kg lwt.

Breeding stock listings increased this week with mixed results influenced by breed and location. PTIC heifer listings increased 36% to 2,858 head and averaged $2,143/head – down $62 from last week for a 28% clearance rate. From Mount Direction, Tasmania, two even lines of 16 Angus heifers PTIC to Angus bulls aged 17-18 months old and weighing 445kg lwt returned $2,300/head, or 517c/kg lwt.

PTIC cows registered an increased offering of 1,288 head and averaged $1,859/head, losing all last week’s gains for a 55% clearance rate. From Scone, NSW, a line of 86 Angus cows PTIC to Angus bulls aged 6-7 years old and weighing 517kg lwt returned $2,120/head, or 410c/kg lwt.

Note: Prices as at 2pm Friday, 3rd March 2023.

Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices

Table 2: AuctionsPlus Queensland Cattle Prices

Table 3: AuctionsPlus Angus Cattle Prices