Listings in the AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales fell to 4,335 head this week due to the Easter disrupted shorter week. Accurate comparisons to last week’s market reports are near impossible and results should be considered in the context of low numbers. Users will have to wait until the weeks following the Easter break to see if the recent rebound in prices can be sustained. The wet and wild weather forecast for the weekend could hinder a few holiday plans, but also improve the likelihood of a good Autumn break. How that influences restocker demand and the flow of available cattle to market after the long weekend will heavily influence the direction of prices from here.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Weekly Cattle Prices
200-280kg steers averaged $1,144 across 498 head for a 51% clearance rate. From Holbrook, NSW, a line of 111 Angus steers aged 6-8 months old and weighing 243kg lwt returned the top price of $1,300/head and will travel to a buyer in Toowoomba, Queensland. Steers weighing 330-400kg averaged $1,597 across 411 head for a 39% clearance rate. From Willatook, Victoria, a line of 79 Angus steers aged 11-12 months old and weighing 350kg lwt returned $1,560/head.
Heifers weighing 200-280kg averaged $919 across 221 head for a 42% clearance rate. From Bowral, NSW, a line of 19 Angus heifers aged 6-7 months old and weighing 277kg lwt returned $1,110/head, or 400c/kg lwt. 330-400kg heifers averaged $1,003 across 402 head for a 28% clearance rate. From Tenterfield, NSW, a line of 24 Charolais heifers aged 14-18 months old and weighing 332kg lwt returned $1,054/head, or 318c/kg lwt.
PTIC heifers averaged $1,824 across 601 head for a 25% clearance rate. From Armidale, NSW, a line of 37 Santa Gertrudis PTIC heifers aged 18-23 months old and weighing 400kg lwt returned $1,680/head and will travel to a buyer in Murarrie, Queensland.
PTIC cows averaged $1,594 across 558 head for a 37% clearance rate. From Drillham, Queensland, a line of 44 Hereford PTIC cows aged 2-9 years old and weighing 517kg lwt returned $1,550/head.
Note: Prices as at 2pm Thursday, 6th April 2023.
Table 1: AuctionsPlus National Cattle Prices