Markets

Online numbers ease 12pc, while competition remains fierce

Beef Central, 12/09/2021

Part of a line of 128 PTIC heifers out of Ironpot near Kingaroy in Southeast Queensland, offered in three lines comprising Brangus, Angus and Angus cross and Charolais crosses. All were 20-30 months, from 452kg to 472kg average weight. Prices range from 498c to 575c/kg.

OVERALL supplies contracted this week through AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales, with the 16,920 head offering down 12 percent on the previous week. Unsurprisingly, the competition for the reduced numbers was fierce, especially though the heavier young heifer lines and mid-weight steers, as price movements through the proven breeding lines was again subject to bloodlines and vendors expectations.

The most notable movement this week was for the heavier end of the young heifer category. With a very similar number of 330-400kg heifers offered compared to last week at 1430 head, the average price jumped 19c/kg, with a 95pc clearance.

Reports of producers chasing future breeders assisted the stronger returns, with the favourable season outlook enabling some producers to take a slightly longer and somewhat cheaper approach to rebuilding. The PTIC heifer average for the week lifted 6c/kg, to average $2547/head – with a 68pc clearance rate for the 1539 head offered.

The heaviest heifers (400kg+) jumped 37c/kg on last week, to average $2230/head – with a 99 clearance for the 681 head offered. While registering a comparable clearance rate for the week, at 97pc for the 987 head offered, 400kg+ steers eased 2c/kg this week, to average $2337.

Both the steer and heifer categories less than 200kg offered less than 430 head each this week, with average prices slipping 41c/kg and 38c/kg respectively, to 631c/kg for steers and 680c/kg for heifers.

In other young steer lines, there was a sharp contraction in offering for the 200-280kg and 280-330kg categories compared to last week – declining 47pc and 54pc, respectively. In contrast, 330-400kg steer numbers increased 63pc to 2177 head – with the average price slipping 14c/kg, to average $2015.

The overall clearance rate through the proven breeder categories with CAF was lower this week, an indication that the willingness for buyers to meet vendor reserves was again diverging. NSM heifers with CAF averaged 5pc cheaper on last week, at $3639 – with 75pc of the 736 head finding buyers. The clearance rate for PTIC cows was close to last week, at 56pc, for the 1415 head offered – while the average price jumped 11pc to $2728.

Among larger breeding lines offered this week were 128 PTIC heifers out of Ironpot near Kingaroy in Southeast Queensland, in three lines comprising Brangus, Angus and Angus cross and Charolais crosses. All were 20-30 months, from 452kg to 472kg average weight. Prices range from 498c to 575c/kg.

Further south, Whatmore Farming Trust, Tamworth sold 61 Angus PTIC heifers 441kg at 18-20 months ranging from 589c/kg to 613.8c/kg.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 10 September.

 

Cows and calves hot property for StockLive buyers

STOCKLIVE buyers turned their focus to cows and calves at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange (NRLX) Store Sale on Friday, securing lots for $3100/unit, to cap off an active week of online bidding across five Store Sales throughout NSW and Victoria.

Kyogle cattle producer, Sam Dietrich, was among the online bidders who secured quality breeding lines for his operation, which backgrounds cattle destined for the feedlot market.

“We were looking for good quality and our purchase was also about numbers, as we have feed in the paddock and we are looking to restock,” Mr Dietrich said.

Mr Dietrich’s purchases were just a shade off the top-selling price of the sale, which reached $3150/unit, given he secured a Chris Knight Hereford line for and a GA and JA Davis offering, both for $3100/head.

“All the cows are second-calvers and we have both Hereford and Charolais bulls at the moment, so I could go either way in terms of the breeds I bought,” he said.

“With the COVID-19 restrictions operating at the yards, I was able to go and inspect the cattle before the sale, but I couldn’t stay for the auction as I am not a regular buyer there.

“I was registered to bid on StockLive, so I watched the full auction on my tablet and made my bids from home.”

Overall, more than 2000 head went under the hammer at the NRLX sale, and the steer price reached $2376/head, while the heifer price found its peak at $2325/head.

StockLive buyers contributed 15% of bids, and the volume online buyer was Nature’s Beef Pty Ltd, which secured nine lots in total.

Online buyers also stirred the bidding action at the Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange (TRLX) Store Sale on Friday, where more than 14 per cent of bids were placed remotely.

Breeding lines proved hot property to online buyers at this auction, and a sale highlight included a crossbred cows and calves pen, snapped up for $2160/head.

Another buyer homed in on a PTIC heifer pen, bought for $1700/head, as well as an eight-head Angus heifer pen for $1110/head.

The Central Tableland Livestock Exchange (CTLX) Store Sale, also on Friday, was home to the top-selling cows and calves pen bought online across all five sales, with Allan Duggan securing a premium J and A Ag Contracting, Angus pen for $3550/head.

Other highlights included a JJ Dresser and Co Angus steer pen, which averaged 136kg to make $1160/head.

The day before at the Inverell Regional Livestock Exchange (IRLX) Store Sale on Thursday, the sale’s volume online buyer, Inchbold Farming, made its mark purchasing 93 head.

Highlights in the Inchbold Farming selection included a crossbred heifer pen, which averaged 290kg, and was bought for 534c/kg.

Also on Thursday, during the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange (NVLX), female lines proved popular among online buyers, with one purchaser securing 46 head of heifers.

The lead pen in the procurement was a Pete’s Contracting line, which weighed 288kg and was bought for $1800/head.

AG and M Hiskins offering of 303kg Angus heifers was also secured for $1770/head.

 

Sources: AuctionsPlus, Stocklive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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