Record Young Cattle Disposals Kick Off in May

Among larger offerings on Friday were these 250 Angus x Shorthorn (some second cross) and
straight Shorthorn weaners, 10-11 months out of Hillston in the NSW Riverina. In the steer
portion, two lines totalling 125 head averaging 311kg and 296kg averaged 414c/kg, while another
125 heifer sisters averaging 287kg and 265kg (crossbreds carrying heterosis heavier in both
cases) averaged 338c/kg and 332c/kg. Click on image for a larger view.

MAY young cattle disposals across eastern Australia have started impressively, with Friday’s
AuctionsPlus cattle offering exceeding 27,000 head—the largest catalogue in five years since
the end of the drought in 2020.

A Surge in Listings

This yarding marks the third highest on record for Elders and Nutrien’s digital marketing platform,
surpassed only by the first two weeks of March 2020, which posted numbers of 30,669 and 28,787 head, respectively.
The surge can be attributed to the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays.

The substantial influx last week resulted in individual steers categories offering up to 5600 head,
while the heifer categories saw 3400 head available.

Price Trends

Despite the volume of cattle on offer, steer prices generally increased, especially for medium and
heavier lines. In contrast, heifer prices and breeding females exhibited mixed results. The
increased supply affected clearance rates, which fell from 87% the previous week to 58% as of
last Friday.

The rise among weaners and yearlings was primarily driven by steers, which saw an impressive
203% increase week-on-week, while heifer listings rose by 129%. Most of the growth stemmed from
lighter to medium-weight lines.

Regional Insights

Listings expanded across all regions, with the Riverina region reporting nearly 5000 head—up
358% from the previous week. Most NSW regions saw their listings more than double, while
Queensland maintained similar listings as the previous week.

Record Clearing Rates for Steers

Steers demonstrated the strongest clearance rates, with the heavier categories recording the largest
price increases week-on-week. Notably, steers weighing over 400kg rose by 34c/kg to average 429c,
clearing 96% of a limited offering of 315 head.

Highlights include:

• 51 Angus steers aged 8-9 months, averaging 273kg from Dunedoo, NSW, that returned $1380/head or
  505c/kg, destined for a buyer near Mudgee, NSW.
• Heifers weighing 330-400kg saw an 85% clearance from a 1000 head offering, with prices lifting
  26c/kg to average 375c. Conversely, a significant offering of 3400 heifers weighing 200-280kg
  struggled with a mere 40% clearance, prices down 10c/kg to average 354c.
• From Warwick, Queensland, 25 Speckle Park heifers aged 4-12 months averaging 121kg returned
  540c/kg, traveling to a buyer in Greenmount, Queensland.

Large Offerings Across Sales

The weekly Eastern States cattle sale saw substantial offerings, with southern listings totaling
10,800 head, and northern and southern weaner and yearling sales at 8300 and 7700 head, respectively.

Among the notable offerings:

• 250 Angus x Shorthorn (some second cross) and straight Shorthorn weaners from Hillston, NSW,
  with steers averaging 414c/kg and heifer sisters averaging 338c/kg.
• 240 weaned Angus steers from the Hay district at 299kg making 428c/kg or $1279/head.
• Across the northern sale, 166 weaned Droughtmaster steers from Boulia, Queensland, averaged
  444c/kg.

Breeding Females’ Performance

PTIC heifers and cows showed positive price trends, rising by $250 and $268 per head. Clearance
rates hovered around 50%. However, nearly 1000 station-mated cows witnessed a meager 28% clearance,
averaging $1703—down $302 from the previous week.

Final Thoughts

The cattle market’s current dynamics highlight both the challenges and opportunities present in
the sector. As the month progresses, stakeholders will be keenly monitoring these trends to adapt
to market shifts.

Source: AuctionsPlus