Young Cattle Prices Surge Amid Tight Supply

This week saw significant price increases for young cattle across all categories, largely driven by scattered storm rain in parts of Eastern Australia, which tightened supply. Only 8,426 head were listed across cattle sales, marking a 32% decrease from the previous week.

Market Overview

The decreased numbers have intensified buyer competition, resulting in a remarkable clearance rate of 97% for the five young steer categories and 89% for heifers. Prices in most steer and heifer categories fared well, showing double-digit improvements in c/kg.

Overall sales clearance, including breeding females, reached 85%, reflecting a slight drop of 1% from last week. The most significant offering was steers weighing 200–280kg, with 1,195 head yarded. This segment cleared 91% of its offering with prices rising by 45c/kg to average 534c.

Price Highlights

Steers weighing 280-330kg improved by 22c/kg to average 510c, achieving a clearance of 96% across 1,081 head. Heavier feeder steers over 400kg saw marginal gains, edging 4c higher to average 493c and clearing the entire offering of 310 head.

Among the notable sales, 36 Angus steers aged 7-9 months and averaging 241kg from Creightons Creek, VIC, returned an impressive 627c/kg en route to a buyer near Maffra, VIC. Another notable line featured 180 Angus steers, 13-16 months old, averaging 251kg from Ilfracombe, who returned 623c/kg and will go to a buyer near Orange, NSW.

Heifers and Larger Steer Lines

Sales also included 150 heavier brothers averaging 344kg, which sold for 552c, and 360 heifer sisters averaging 218kg sold between 545c/kg and 484c/kg for varying averages. The cattle were Victorian-bred but were on agistment due to the southern drought.

Other larger steer lines sold included 117 Santa x composite weaned steers, averaging 288kg at 5-10 months from Quilpie, QLD, fetching 534c/kg, and 160 Angus steers from Cockatoo in Southern QLD averaging 315kg sold for 540c/kg.

Heifer Market Dynamics

Heifer categories saw notable price jumps this week as well. Heifers weighing 280–330kg saw an increase of 22c/kg to average 452c, with 92% of the 1,029 head sold. Heifers 330-400kg jumped by 43c/kg to an average of 470c, clearing 85% of the 890 offered — heavier lines over 400kg also rose, averaging 461c after a 14c increase.

Regional Insights

Listing regions showed QLD and NSW both offered approximately 3,100 head each, while Western Queensland contributed 1,900 head. Listings from NSW featured a balanced split of around 900 head from both Central Western NSW and the North West Slopes and Plains.

Breeding Female Prices Rise

With breeding female listings tightening, buyer activity remained strong—leading to higher clearance rates and increasing prices. Notable trends include:

• NSM heifers & calves lifted $486, averaging $3,240 per pair.
• NSM cows & calves increased by $200, averaging $2,705.
• PTIC heifers rose $318, averaging $2,086.

For instance, 60 Angus station mated heifers from Tarrone, SA, aged 20-22 months and averaging 426kg returned $2,700, traveling to a buyer near Tarrayoukyan, VIC.

Source: AuctionsPlus