Australian Cattle Market Alert
AUSTRALIA - Cattle throughput in Meat and Livestock Australia’s NLRS reported physical markets remained firm week-on-week, with 40,500 head yarded. An increase in supply in Queensland and New South Wales has been offset by a 28 per cent fall in South Australia with a return to a normal trading.
24 March 2010
2 minute read
As flood waters slowly move south from Queensland more producers are able to offload cattle, Roma store sale almost doubled and was made up mostly of Brahman-cross heavy feeder steers. In New South Wales numbers increased slightly with Forbes and Wagga returning to normal levels. Producers in most areas are looking for follow up rain to consolidate the autumn break, particularly after the hot dry conditions experienced at the end of last week.
Victorian supply remained firm on last week although the composition is changing with more yearlings, grown steers and cows and less vealers being yarded. Quality remains good to mixed in South Australia with buyers competing for less numbers. West Australia continues to be affected by dry conditions and it is shown in the quality and supply of cattle.
Prices slip
The strong prices of recent times have struggled to be maintained, with most markets recording a cheaper trend. There have been some exceptions with feeders and restockers still pursuing suitable lines of young cattle.
Direct sales to lotfeeders and processors have both eased as more cattle become available due to the onset of autumn and Queensland opening up. Although numbers remain reasonably tight rates may ease further later in the week as stock movement becomes easier.
At the close of Tuesday markets the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator fell 1.25¢ on Monday to settle at 353¢/kg cwt. The trade steer indicator surged 5¢ on last week to 190¢ while feeder steers jumped 3¢ to close at 187.4¢/kg. Japan ox fell 3¢ to end at 178.1¢ and US cow finished 2¢ cheaper at 133.8¢/kg.
TheCattleSite News Desk
