FEEDER cattle prices are relatively similar across the country with this week, with big numbers of cattle on feed in the north and southern yards having to search other areas for heavy steers.

According to most buyers Beef Central spoke to this morning, 400kg+ flatback feeder steers out of the paddock in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales were making about 360c/kg, which is relatively firm on our previous report two weeks ago.

Angus feeder steers from the paddock have been quoted anywhere between 400c and 430c/kg in the south, about 390c-395c in Northern NSW and EU compliant steers in NSW were making about 415c. Heifers are about 50c/kg cheaper in southern markets.

The national saleyard feeder steer indicator has eased by 11c/kg from 362c/kg a fortnight ago to 351.6c today.

More specifically for heavier 400kg + feeder steers, the national indicator has only eased by 1c in the past two weeks to 363.5c today.

State by State, the gap in average feeder steer prices between the north and the south has narrowed, with the Qld 400kg+ feeder steer indicator being 15c higher to 361.2c, NSW 9.5c lower to 368.5 and Victoria 16c lower to 347.3.

A fornight ago average prices for 400+kg feeder steers in NSW and Victoria were 20-30c higher than Qld.

AuctionsPlus heavy feeders 400kg+ in Friday’s sales 377c, but that included a fair percentage of Angus. Clearance was low at only 46pc.

The market appears to be driven by a tale of seasons, with big numbers of heavy feeders coming out of the north ahead of the wet season and less rain than expected in the south.

One large multi-site lot feeder is not quoting in Qld this week, with big numbers of cattle already on feed. It is typical for the large lot feeders to book out for three-to-four weeks in advance.

However, a South Australian lot feeder who spoke to Beef Central this morning said he was having to search other areas to find heavy feeder steers. He said the price gap between north and south had narrowed.

“There is still a price difference, but it is nowhere near as dramatic as it was – wherever you go in Australia the rate is going to be similar,” he told Beef Central.

“Often prices change down here when the grass changes colour, there is a bit of comfort because things are still teetering on green.”

Looking ahead, one senior Southern Queensland livestock industry source told Beef Central he believes the next movement in price is likely to be higher once headers start harvest, suggesting he wouldn’t be surprised to see downward pressure on grain prices push feeder steer prices back toward the 400c range before Chrismas, even possibly by November.