THE beef production heartland area of Central Queensland has become a pinch-point in the slaughter cattle supply-demand equation, with direct consignment bookings starting to mount up significantly heading into May.

Earlier weather delays have now cleared, and with early frosts not that far away, more cattle producers in the region are on the move.

A sense of unease and uncertainty that swept across the export beef industry following Trump’s April 4 tariff announcements now appear to have eased, and its back to business as usual for many supply chains (more on this tomorrow).

While much of the direct consignment market across Eastern Australia remains unchanged this week, some Central Queensland grids have softened by another 10c/kg, as bookings have emerged in volume.

Much of Central Queensland is now 20c/kg behind rates set out below seen in southern parts of the state.

Active grids seen this morning from competitive processors in the state’s south show offers for good quality heavy cows at 570-580c/kg and heavy grass four-tooth ox 640-650c, following 10-20c declines a fortnight ago. Some plants showing 640c have 650c available for no-HGP cattle.

At least one large southern Queensland export plant is not offering direct consignment quotes at all this week, content that it has spaces covered for the immediate future.

Its clear from all conversations that Queensland supply pressure is growing, especially in Central Queensland.

One large multi-site operator says his business is heavily booked for Central Queensland kills through to the third and fourth week of May; another says his company’s May commitments are virtually covered, with June already also heavily supported with paid and unpriced bookings.

He said his company’s livestock buyers had seen “unbelievable action” in terms of booking inquiries since Friday. Nasty accountants pushing some clients over cash flow before the end of the financial year is also becoming a consideration in selling decisions, as the industry moves into May.

Some of the overflow from, heavy Central Queensland bookings will inevitably head south into the concentration of plants in Queensland’s southeast corner, and across the border into NSW.

Further south, processors in eastern parts of South Australia have cows this week still on 630c and grass ox 700c, both unchanged on last week. Grids in southern NSW this morning showed 600c on cows and 690c on four-tooth ox, also unchanged.

A return to normal five-day working weeks will see a natural rise in processor appetite for slaughter stock, after the recent long series of holidays. The exception is Queensland where some (but not all) export processors will miss next Monday for Labour Day holiday. After that, it’s plain sailing for the next few months, which will be crucial in helping eliminate any serious backlog occurring.

Some of the larger northern pastoral company operators are now getting their stock camps in order and first round musters underway. There’s already been a couple of large uplifts of cull cows made out of the NT, as the annual process gets underway. More are booked for Central, North and Southern Queensland, and into South Australia and Victoria during May, as more country dries out.

Southern buying interest

Given some big price differentials now emerging between southern and northern regions, it’s only a matter of time before processors out of Victoria and southern NSW press north again into Queensland chasing slaughter stock.

There weas no obvious presence at Roma sale this morning, but paddock deals may already being taking place. But with bullocks making 640-650c dressed weight equivalent at Roma this morning, and 720-730c in some southern sales in the past two days, it’s only a matter of time.

Good sized yardings in southern saleyards centres this week may have delayed that process a little.

Kills collapse

Weekly slaughter numbers fell sharply last week due to holiday impacts.

The seven days ended Friday saw a national NLRS kill of just 79,870 head, down more than 72,000 head on two weeks prior, and the lowest since the week of 3 January, due to ANZAC Day and Easter Monday holidays. Weekly throughput will not be fully restored until week ending 18 May, due to next Monday’s Labour Day holiday in Queensland, although some Queensland sheds are planning shifts that day regardless.

Saleyards trends

Southern yards generally trended higher in price in sales held early this week, as local supply challenges for killable cattle continue to mount.

A bigger yarding of 1800 was seen at Wodonga this morning – half of which were cows – up 1160 on last week. Quality was secondary with only odd pens of well-finished yearlings that had been grain assisted. The market was stronger for secondary types, with northern restockers and feedlots looking to secure all well-bred stock. In the export market competition lifted over all categories due to limited numbers. Heavy steers averaged 411c/kg, bullocks improved 33c to average 392c/kg. A mixed quality offering of cows met a large field of buyers, with prices up 4c/kg, with buyers all vying for a market share. Heavy cows traded from 304-338c/kg, while the D2 and D3 cows less than 520kg from 249-293c/kg.

Gunnedah yarded 1420 this morning, after a two-week break. The regular backgrounders and feeders attended and operated to a much dearer market along with exporters who were very competitive through the cow offering. All cows sold to dearer trends with score 3 cows 33c/kg dearer and the score 4sgaining 23c/kg and topping at 333c/kg.

A preliminary Roma store sale report indicated a dramatically larger yarding of 8433 head this morning, as roads becoming more accessible after earlier rain, and holiday impacts cleared. At the time of the interim report bullocks over 600kg sold from 300c to a top of 360c/kg and grown steers 500-600kg to processors averaged 348c/kg, up 10c, while heavier +600kg examples averaged 349c.

Full Roma report tomorrow.