IT seems a rising tide is lifting all boats in the feeder market, with grids increasing across most categories over the past fortnight.

Feedlot buyers who spoke to Beef Central this morning were quoting 400kg+ flatback feeder steers, delivered downs, between 370c-390c/kg. Most of the Darling Downs lotfeeders are booked out for a few weeks and taking delivery towards the end of July.

In the south, the feeder market continues to strengthen, with several lotfeeders giving quotes for British X cattle with no indicus content. They were being quoted between 420-430c/kg delivered to the Riverina, with one multi-state lotfeeder quoting 390c/kg for the same category in the north.

As Beef Central pointed out last week, the price of Angus feeder steers is now level-pegging with F1 Wagyu steers. The Angus market has continued to strengthen in the past week and, in most cases, is trading at a 100c premium to the regular flatback market.

In the south, Angus steers were making between 465-480c/kg and 475c-480c/kg in the north. One passive quote of 420c/kg was given for Angus feeder steers delivered to the Darling Downs.

Source: MLA NLRS saleyard indicators Monday 23 June 2025.  

Demand for weight in the south

While dry conditions are prevailing in parts of Victoria and South Australia, consistent rain has been coming across many previously dry areas – with more rain forecast in the next week.

But with the area still in the middle of winter, southern lotfeeders have been struggling to find cattle with weight in recent weeks and many lighter cattle have been filling pens.

Perhaps demonstrating the demand for weight was an Auctions Plus sale last week of 228 Angus feeder steers from Penola, in South Australia – which weighed 457-463kg and made 514-516c/kg.

The National Livestock Reporting Service’s report from this morning’s Wagga cattle sale is reflecting a similar trend with feeder steers between 330-400kg gaining 35c to average 406c/kg., on a range of 370-496c/kg.

Numbers continue to flow in the north

Most buyers who spoke to Beef Central this morning said there will still plenty of heavy feeder cattle coming onto the market in the north. Roma Saleyards has been consistently hosting between 7000-8000 head in the past month and Dalby between 4000-5000.

While the numbers have remained high, prices have definitely risen in the past week. Meat & Livestock Australia’s feeder steer indicator last week reflected a 24c increase in prices for 400kg+ feeder steers at the saleyards – with an average of 390c/kg.

Several reasons have been given for the rise the in northern prices over the past fortnight, including general optimism from the rise in southern markets and the issuance of some forward contracts from processors last week giving access to finance.

Those numbers look to continue with 8000 head booked into the Roma Saleyards tomorrow, including 1700 cows.