Market Insights: Cattle Numbers Rebound on AuctionsPlus

Part of an offering of 202 Black Simmental x Droughtmaster x Angus backgrounder steers 320kg at 13-16 months from Morven, Southern Qld sold in two lines this morning, making 531c/kg ($1700) and 534c ($1710).

Cattle numbers on AuctionsPlus showed a remarkable recovery last week, with a total of 11,819 head offered. Despite the dwindling supply, market confidence appears to be on the upswing, evidenced by improved clearance rates and pricing across key categories for young cattle.

Market Dynamics

The clearance rate surged from a concerning 44% last week to an impressive 71% by Friday, representing a significant 19 percentage point increase. This shift indicates stronger buyer engagement and a better convergence between vendor expectations and market demand.

Steer Offerings

Steers were the standout category, with 4,865 head presented and a robust clearance rate of 79%. Interestingly, medium and heavier weight steers saw price increases, while lighter categories experienced slight declines or were considered too small to quote.

The best performers included:

• 280-330kg steers, which rose by 25c/kg to average 515c/kg, clearing 85% of the 1,441 head offered.
• Steers weighing 330–400kg increased by 4c/kg to average 490c/kg, with a 71% clearance rate for 1,095 head.
• Feeder weights exceeding 400kg improved by 8c/kg to average 492c/kg, bolstered by consistent processor demand.
• Lighter 200–280kg steers declined by 4c/kg but maintained a strong clearance rate of 83% for the 1,741 offered, suggesting demand remains robust.

Noteworthy Transactions

Some highlights from the steer offerings included:

• 65 Angus steers aged 10-12 months averaging 282kg from Glen Innes, NSW, which sold for 593c/kg and are heading to a buyer near Miles, QLD.
• 59 Angus steers aged 5-6 months averaging 203kg from Bombala, NSW, returned 592c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Lake Albert, NSW.
• 114 Angus/Brangus steers aged 11-14 months averaging 260kg from Muttaburra, QLD, sold for 573c/kg, set to go to a buyer near Winton, QLD.
• Additionally, the offering of 202 Black Simmental x Droughtmaster x Angus backgrounder steers weighing 320kg at 13-16 months from Morven, Southern Qld sold in two lines, fetching 531c/kg ($1700) and 534c ($1710).

Heifers and Breeding Female Listings

Heifer listings totaled 4,350 head with a clearance rate of 78%. Mixed results were seen, with heavier categories performing the best. Heifers in the 330-400kg category cleared 77% of the 1,711 offered, with the market improving 7c to average 432c/kg.

Light heifers weighing 200-280kg numbered 1,058, clearing 88% to average 424c/kg, a slight increase from the previous week.

Breeding female offerings accounted for 2,647 head this week, with generally lower clearance rates. The largest segment was PTIC heifers, with only 40% clearance from 978 offered, leading to a price drop of $621 to an average of $1,757. PTIC cow offerings were better, clearing 54% of the 770 head sold, with prices averaging $2,272, which was down $7 from last week.

Source: AuctionsPlus