Market Update: Cattle Prices and Offerings on AuctionsPlus

Part of a run of 358 Angus backgrounder and feeder steers in store condition from Bollon, southern Queensland. These sold on Friday from 567c/kg for a run of 84 averaging 280kg at 12-14 months to 506c for a run of 47 heavier types averaging 385kg at 14-18 months.

This week, AuctionsPlus reported a significant decline in both offering size and clearance rate. The number of cattle cataloged dropped to 11,538 head, marking a 31% decrease from the previous week. Additionally, the overall clearance rate fell to 51% at the end of Friday’s auction, a 21% decline.

Despite this initial downturn, subsequent negotiations have shown some improvement, with AuctionsPlus reporting that clearance rates have since increased by approximately 20%. This suggests that vendors and agents are beginning to adjust to current market conditions.

Price Trends by Weight Class

Interestingly, there were noticeable contrasts in price trends between lighter and heavier young cattle. Lighter steers and heifers generally saw stronger prices in cents per kilogram (c/kg), while heavier lines experienced a decline in value.

Younger Steers

Among steer categories, a notable offering of 1,300 steers weighing between 280-330kg cleared 61%, with prices rising by 20c/kg to an average of 519c/kg. However, lighter steers in the 200-280kg range saw a sharp decline, with 774 head clearing only 56% and prices dropping by 47c/kg to an average of 507c.

Heavier Steers

For heavier steers weighing 330-400kg, the average price decreased by 34c to 496c/kg. Furthermore, export feeder weight steers over 400kg followed suit, losing 23c/kg to average 495c, with only 44% of the 758 offered clearing.

Heifer Offerings

Similar trends were observed within the heifer categories. Heifers weighing 200-280kg experienced small gains of 3-5c, averaging 445c/kg but with a lower clearance of only 31% for the 1,150 offered. Heifers in the 280-330kg range averaged 464c, clearing only 37% of the 1,318 head.

Heifers in the 330-400kg category saw a reduction of 25c to an average of 450c, but a better clearance rate of 57% was noted for the 1,400 offered. Heavy heifers over 400kg dropped 38c to average 455c, with a clearance rate of 47%.

Specific Young Cattle Lines

Among specific lines offered this week, a group of 378 Grey Brahman weaners aged 5-10 months from Cloncurry, Northwest Queensland, garnered attention. The heifer portion averaged 196kg and sold for 270c/kg, while the steer portion averaged 200kg, achieving 393c/kg.

Moving further southeast, 209 Droughtmaster weaner heifers from Nebo, Central Queensland, recorded prices where the lighter portion averaging 221kg fetched 340c/kg and the heavier end at 259kg achieved 336c/kg.

Breeding Cattle

In breeding cattle, the only notable offering was non-replacement cows and calves, with 964 pairs offered and a 51% clearance rate. Prices increased by $66 to reach an average of $2,659 per pair. Notably, non-replacement heifers and calves saw 319 pairs offered but a more limited clearance of 31%, with prices lifting by $340 to an average of $2,812 per pair.

Smaller breeding female offerings included only 91 station-mated heifers, which lost $320 to average $1,443, while only 5% of 162 offered pregnant heifers sold, averaging $2,140.

Source: AuctionsPlus