Recent Cattle Sales Show Mixed Trends in AuctionsPlus Market
These 108 weaned Angus and Ultrablack steers, aged 4-8 months and averaging 296kg from Eromanga, far western QLD, made 560c/kg or $1660 a head yesterday.
The latest AuctionsPlus cattle sale featured a significant offering of nearly 18,000 head, reflecting a 39% increase from the previous week. However, the heifer categories saw a decline in value in c/kg terms, while steers took a different path and generally improved in price. Additionally, breeding lines displayed mixed results.
Queensland and New South Wales accounted for the substantial majority of supply, contributing over 16,000 head to the auction. As clearance rates dropped by 10% to 80%, this surge in volume might be attributed to the current drying conditions in regions like the NSW Central West. Producers may be compelled to offload stock earlier due to diminishing feed availability combined with strong cattle prices.
Steer Prices on the Rise
Among the steers, heavy feeders weighing over 400kg saw an 11c/kg increase, now averaging 513c, with an impressive clearance rate of 87% from an offering of 1587. Meanwhile, a considerable lot of 2821 steers weighing between 330-400kg managed to clear 92%, with prices rising by 11c to average 534c/kg, showing robust demand for heavier feeder and backgrounding steers.
In the 280-330kg category, steers gained 31c to average 585c, clearing nearly all 2200 head up for auction. Conversely, the 200-280kg steers experienced the only decrease, falling 33c to average 569c/kg.
Noteworthy steer highlights include:
- 46 Angus steers, aged 7-8 months and averaging 264kg from Merriwa, NSW, sold for 683c/kg.
- 41 Angus steers, 7-9 months old and averaging 250kg from Wallarobba, NSW, made 696c/kg.
- 40 Angus steers, 14-15 months averaging 356kg from Dublin, SA, fetched 589c/kg.
Among larger steer lots, 108 weaned Angus and Ultrablack steers from Eromanga, aged 4-8 months and averaging 296kg, made 560c/kg or $1660 each. Meanwhile, 121 Angus backgrounder steers weighing 274kg from Dorrigo, northern NSW, sold for 660c/kg or $1810.
Heifers Struggle in Current Market
The heifer market displayed a decline in most categories, with a large offering of 2125 heifers weighing between 330-400kg clearing only 66%. Prices fell by 6c to average 470c. Additionally, feeder-weight heifers over 400kg lost 12c to average 466c/kg, clearing 81% of the 912 offered.
Lighter heifers weighing 280-330kg also saw a decline, dropping 8c to average 479c, with only 69% of the 1569 head clearing through the auction.
Breeding Females Show Mixed Results
For breeding females, just over 1000 PTIC heifers cleared a low 32%, but those that sold gained an impressive $266 per head, averaging $2668. In contrast, an offering of 726 NSM heifers saw only 40% clear, with prices declining by $188 to average $2716. Station-mated cows and calves attracted 575 pairs, clearing 73% at an average price of $2828, though prices in some categories showed improvement due to the smaller offering size.
Source: AuctionsPlus
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