SUPPLY is heavily influencing direct consignment slaughter cattle pricing this week, with some Queensland grids lifting in value, while others in southern states are easing.

Recent rain and better prospects of the summer season ahead are factors in both ends of the continent.

Some large Queensland multi-site export processors have lifted rates 20c/kg this week, but the move is largely in response to competitors who made similar adjustments a week earlier.

For delivery in the state’s southern region in the next couple of weeks, expect to see grids offering 560c/kg on heavy cows and 620-630c on four tooth heavy grass ox, with implant.

Processors further north in Central Queensland are typically 10c behind that.

The rises seen this week and last in the northern state have not seen inquiries ‘light-up’, one cattle buyer said. “It’s been more about putting a price on those cattle that were already on the books as space bookings,” he said.

More rain over the past week in regions of NSW, Queensland and Victoria has again caused some delays in deliveries, but only in limited quantity and unlikely to reduce kill numbers this week, contacts said this morning.

Most Queensland processors are now concentrating on rosters for the last two weeks of the year, with many of the state’s larger export operators planning their last kills on Thursday, 19 December, with the final boning shift the following day. We’ll post a list of major plant closures and 2025 opening dates in the next week or so.

With more widespread rain impact now evident in large parts of eastern Australia, some producers are now beginning to hold stock back for kills in January-February, with the promise of extra weight.

In southern states, there’s been some evidence of over-the-hooks rates easing further this week, with eastern parts of South Australia back 10c to 540c/kg on good cows and 610c on four-tooth grass ox.

Southern NSW rates are mostly unchanged this week, with representative samples showing 510c/kg on heavy cows and 590c/kg on grass ox, reflecting the recent lift in supply.

Slaughter close to season-highs

National adult slaughter remained close to 2024 season-highs last week, reaching 145,159 head for the week ended Friday.

The previous week reset the 2024 record for seven day kills, at 145,687 head. Barring rain disruptions, the final quarter (October-December) is shaping as the largest slaughter volume seen sine the 2019 and 2015 drought years.

Worth noting is the decline in female slaughter ratio over the past month. Last week, females accounted for only 43.2pc of the national seven-day kill, down from 48.6pc only three weeks ago.

Saleyards trends

Physical cattle sales held early this week showed a generally dearer trend.

Gunnedah this morning yarded 3550, up 40pc on last week. Heavy grown steers were dearer selling to 339c/kg. Medium cows to feed were in demand  at 244-256c/kg, with heavy cows marginally dearer 274-292c.

A yarding of 1800 at Wodonga this morning, down 400 on last week, saw solid export market  competition. Heavy steers averaged 325c/kg with bullocks averaging 321c/kg. The larger offering of cows met a bigger field of buyers and prices were similar to last week. Heavy cows traded from 264-288c/kg. It was a strong market for leaner grades under 520kg, with all buyers wanting a market share.

Roma yarded 4274 head this morning, down around 1000 on last week due to rain. A preliminary report (full details tomorrow, after the sale is completed) said the market was stronger for the better quality lines. Grown steers 400-500kg saw the majority making to 330c/kg. Grown steers 500-600kg sold to 329c/kg. Cows were yet to come at the time this report was filed.