Latest Trends in Cattle Auctions: Market Insights from AuctionsPlus

Part of a line of 270 Droughtmaster PTIC cows, three years averaging 436kg from Dirrinbandi, southern Queensland that made $2000 a head yesterday.

The latest cattle auction on AuctionsPlus has revealed a mixed bag of trends, showcasing the fluctuations in the market as lighter steers and heifers eased in value while heavier categories saw significant gains. A total of 10,765 head was offered this week, reflecting a 22% boost in catalogue size, albeit from previously low levels.

Clearance rates remained stable, maintaining at 76%, with the steer portion outperforming at an impressive 86% clearance. This week’s results indicated stronger competition for heavier cattle, particularly noticeable in the categories for steers and heifers exceeding 400kg.

Steer Market Overview

In the steer categories, heavy-weight steers (+400kg) saw an increase of 27c/kg, averaging 505c/kg and clearing 73% of the 665 head offered. Lighter steers (200-280kg) saw a price reduction, dropping 7c to average 551c/kg, although they managed to clear an impressive 94% of their offering.

Highlighted sales included:

• 44 Angus and Angus x Hereford steers aged 5-6 months, averaging 179kg from Cooma, NSW, which returned 603c/kg.
• 300 Angus EU-eligible feeder steers, 17-19 months and averaging 480kg from Walcha, Northern NSW, fetched 512-514c/kg or $2460 a head.

Heifer Market Dynamics

The trends for heifers were mixed, with heavier lines reporting gains. Heifers weighing 400kg+ gained 30c/kg, averaging 442c/kg with an 81% clearance rate of the 380 offered. However, the lighter categories faced declines, with heifers in the 280-330kg range losing 15c to average 408c.

Breeding Females Performance

Results from breeding lines showed a varied landscape:

• PTIC cows enjoyed a notable increase of $396/head, averaging $2110.
• SM cows and calves rose by $331/pair to reach $2460.

However, certain categories saw declines, including PTIC cows and heifers with calves. Notable sales included:

• 74 Brahman x Hereford station mated cows and calves, with cows aged 5-12 years and averaging 437kg, returned $2620/head near Emerald, QLD.
• 39 Santa x Hereford PTIC heifers, aged 17-20 months and averaging 474kg, fetched $2800 near Banana, QLD.

Conclusion

This week’s cattle auction results highlight the ongoing fluctuations in the market. While lighter cattle struggled to maintain their values, heavier classes proved more resilient, driven by increased competition. As we move forward, stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed of trends to better navigate the evolving cattle market landscape.

Part of a line of 300 Angus EU-eligible feeder steers, aged 17-19 months and averaging 480kg from Walcha, NSW that made 512-514c/kg or $2460 a head yesterday.

Source: Auctions Plus