Markets

Steer values lift, despite continued surge in AuctionsPlus listings

Beef Central, 21/11/2022

This line of 55 Angus weaned heifers 8-9 months averaging 312kg from Kingston SA returned 704.9c/kg or $2200/head on Friday. The heifers are destined for a buyer near Ben Lomond, NSW.

MOST young steer values lifted on AuctionsPlus last week, despite continued heavy commercial cattle listings above 20,000 head.

Last week’s offering totalled 22,973 head, back 8pc from the extreme numbers the week before, but still the third highest for 2022.

Producers are happy to continue sending large lines of cattle to market, while buyers have taken a more cautious approach, carefully considering several challenges at hand.

The combination of extenuating circumstances across many key cattle regions is weighing heavily on the market, with clearance rates and average value over reserve both subdued this week.

Slightly lower offerings for select steer and heifer categories relieved some pressure, whereas increased breeding stock listings provided buyers with plenty of options.

Some quality lines helped prices increase across four-out-of-five steer categories, while clearance rates were generally lower.

A larger offering of 324 light steers recovered some of last week’s losses to average 539c or 38c/kg higher, for a 61pc clearance.

Listings of steers weighing 200-280kg also increased to 1759 head and averaged 662c, up 55c on the previous week for a 75pc clearance. From Ellerston, NSW, 28 Wagyu x Angus F1 steers 8-12 months averaging 274kg returned 941c/kg o r$2580/head.

A slightly smaller offering of 2329 steers in the 280-330kg category was met with weaker demand, averaging 591c, down 48c from the previous week, with a 42pc clearance.

From Penshurst, Victoria, 19 Angus steers 12-13 months averaging 310kg returned $2110/head – $160 over reserve.

Steers 330-400kg recovered most of last week’s losses to average 597c across the 2314 head offered. From Tamworth, NSW, 26 Hereford steers 12-13 months averaging 386kg returned 520c/kg or $2010.

The heavy steer offering +400kg increased to 1496 head this week, as warmer temperatures and strong pasture growth assisted more steers to reach feeder weights. Average prices increased 16c/kg or $108 to average 533c/kg or $2399, for a 41pc clearance.

From Carabost, NSW, 40 Angus steers 14-15 months averaging 458kg returned 541c/kg OR $2480. The steers will travel to Bena, Victoria.

Heifer categories saw red ink this week with prices across three of the five weight categories falling as the market struggled to absorb the higher volumes of the last two weeks. Light heifers less than 200kg averaged $844 across the 291 head offered to register an 83pc clearance.

A 46pc drop in the number of 200-280kg heifers relieved some pressure and allowed prices to kick 15c higher to average 583c across the 1305 head offered.

From Pentland, North Queensland, a line of 100 Simmental cross heifers 5-11 months averaging 227kg returned $1200 – travelling to Glen Innes NSW.

Heifers 280-330kg on the other hand experienced a larger offering of 1439 head, with prices averaging 1c higher at 630c, for a 76pc clearance. From Kingston, SA, 55 Angus heifers 8-9 months averaging 312kg returned $2200/head. The heifers are destined for Ben Lomond, NSW.

Heifers 330-400kg slipped further this week, with the 2144 head averaging 559c, back 61c from last week to reach a 65pc clearance.

From Tambo, Queensland, 30 Santa heifers 12-14 months averaging 336kg returned $2070 – $250 over reserve.

The offering of heavy heifers +400kg increased to 1127 head this week and averaged 497c, down 72c, for a subdued clearance of 43pc. From Delungra, NSW, 27 Angus heifers 13-15 months averaging 415kg returned $2400, or 579c/kg.

Breeding cattle

Breeding stock numbers were higher again this week while quality was varied. Buyers were spoiled for choice when it came to PTIC heifers. From a high base last week, listings increased further to 4040 head. Prices consequently slipped $175 or 73c/kg to average $2572/541c. From Buchan, Victoria, 22 Angus PTIC heifers 27-28 months averaging 526kg returned $3440/head – $440 over reserve.

In contrast, listings of PTIC cows were back almost 30pc this week to total 746 head. This supported a 7c/kg increase in prices to an average 483c and 70pc clearance. From Orange, NSW, 33 Angus PTIC cows three-years averaging 570kg returned $3420/head – $160 over reserve.

From Armidale, NSW, 20 Angus NSM cows with calves at foot returned $4010/pair. The cows were aged three-to-seven years and averaged 623kg.

Prices as at 2pm, Friday 18 November.

Soruce: AuctionsPlus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVE YOUR SAY

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your comment will not appear until it has been moderated.
Contributions that contravene our Comments Policy will not be published.

Comments

Get Beef Central's news headlines emailed to you -
FREE!