Weekly Cattle Market Update

This week, cattle listings on AuctionsPlus increased significantly, rising by 35% with a total of 16,613 head offered. Heavy feeder steers and heifers continued to attract strong demand, resulting in moderate price increases. However, lighter steers and heifers experienced a downturn in value, with some prices dropping sharply.

Despite the increased volume of offerings, clearance rates softened compared to previous weeks. This may reflect the spike in feedlot deliveries, extending delivery windows by two to three weeks. Seasonal shifts have also tempered buyer interest compared to earlier in spring.

However, the increased flow of heavy livestock is expected to be a temporary phenomenon, as forecasts indicate rainfall across parts of northern Australia may tighten feedlot supply by the end of the month.

Market Insights

Even under heavier supply conditions, heavy feeders saw improved prices compared to last week. Heavy feeder heifers also garnered good demand. Specifically, lighter steers weighing between 200-280kg attracted 1,111 entries, with the average price climbing 37c to 568c/kg, though only 70% were cleared.

From Fingal, Tasmania, a lot of 32 Angus steers aged 12-13 months and averaging 220kg fetched 618c/kg. Meanwhile, medium weight steers of 280-330kg experienced a price drop of 72c to average 502c/kg, clearing only 60% of 2,455 head offered.

Heavy feeder steers over 400kg averaged 517c/kg, an increase of 9c, with a clearance rate of 69% from a catalogue of 1,554 head.

Heifers Market Overview

Heavy heifer lines over 400kg were particularly notable, increasing by 26c/kg to average 472c, achieving a 93% clearance from 900 head offered. Heifers in the 330-400kg range also saw a 32c increase to an average of 474c, though only 44% cleared from a total of 2,392 head.

Unfortunately, lighter heifer categories did not fare as well, with significant losses. Heifers weighing 280-330kg fell by 23c to average 468c, while those in the 200-280kg category lost 53c to average 449c. Weaner heifers under 200kg saw the most drastic drop of 245c/kg, averaging just 319c.

Breeding Females

The results for breeding females showed a downward trend, in some cases sharply. Non-pedigree cows and calves represented the largest offering at 940 head, clearing only 35% at an average of $2,518, down by $218 from the previous week. Non-pedigree heifers and calves, the second-largest category with 552 head offered, cleared 53% at an average of $2,488, which is a dramatic drop of $577 from a week earlier.

Station-mated cows and calves averaged $2,206, down by $434, and cleared just 20%, while station-mated heifers and calves saw a $40 decrease to average $3,065, with a clearance rate of 21%.

Listings predominantly came from eastern states, with New South Wales offering 8,600 head, followed by Queensland at 5,200 head. Buyer activity mirrored this pattern, with New South Wales securing 4,400 head.

Source: AuctionsPlus