Weekly Australian Cattle Summary

AUSTRALIA - This report is a collection of weekly cattle price summaries from each Australian state by the Meat & Livestock Australia.
calendar icon 27 August 2010
clock icon 9 minute read
Meat & Livestock Australia

New South Wales Weekly Cattle Summary

Rain hampers supply further

Further rain across much of the state in particular the northern region resulted in throughput at MLA's NLRS reported physical markets falling 20 per cent. The Monday markets of Wagga, Forbes and Tamworth recorded larger yardings with most cattle penned before the rain started to fall. CTLX and Goulburn were also unaffected by the wet conditions although a significant proportion of the young cattle at Goulburn were showing the effects of the cold and wet conditions. Gunnedah however was reduced to only 31 per cent of last weeks penning after falls of up to 50mm in the district, it was a similar situation at Inverell with only 250 head offered. The Hunter markets of Scone and Singleton were also down as were Armidale and Casino. Dubbo numbers were halved.

The condition of young cattle showed an improvement at some selling centres although quality varied across the state. There was a good supply of supplementary fed and crop finished trade cattle along with forward conditioned yearling steers at Scone, there was also an increase in the number of finished yearlings at Tamworth. At Casino the yarding mostly consisted of light and medium weight vealers and at Wagga there was a good selection of young steers and heifers suitable to feeders or o return to the paddock. Grown steers remained limited at some markets but at Dubbo there was a good supply of C3 heavyweights and bullocks along with a fair supply of C3 grown heifers.

Direct to slaughter rates were left unchanged the ongoing wet conditions are making it tough for processors to secure adequate numbers.

Restockers still strong

Calves to restockers mostly sold to a dearer trend with the averages between 243¢ and 249¢/kg. Lightweight vealer steers to slaughter averaged 225¢ as those returning to the paddock averaged 5¢ to 7¢ higher with prices around 230¢/kg. Medium weights returning to the paddock sold 5¢ dearer at 218¢ while heavyweights to the trade were firm at 209¢/kg. Lightweight vealer heifers to slaughter made around 8¢ more at 221¢ with medium weights 7¢ dearer at 212¢/kg. Lightweight yearling steers to restock averaged 3¢ higher at 210¢ as medium c2's to feed eased 3¢ to 198¢/kg. Heavyweights to slaughter were 3¢ cheaper averaging 188¢/kg. Lightweight yearling heifers to restock were firm at 190¢ as those to feed gained 5¢ also around 190¢/kg. Medium weight C3's to the trade eased 2¢ to 192¢ as heavyweights were firm at 182¢/kg.

Medium weight grown steers to feed gained 3¢ to 183¢ as heavyweights to slaughter were steady at 184¢. Fat score 3 bullocks eased 3¢ to 181¢ while 4 scores averaged 2¢ dearer at 186¢/kg. Medium weight D2 cows eased 4¢ to 132¢ D3's were 2¢ dearer at 143¢ and heavyweights eased 2¢ averaging between 148¢ to 152¢/kg.

SA Weekly Cattle Summary

Increased Yardings

Last Friday's split cattle yarding at Naracoorte attracted 859 cows and bulls that sold to strong SA and Victorian processor competition at generally dearer levels, with young cows topping the sale at 169¢/kg lwt. The SALE's 664 or 76 head less of mainly young cattle kickstarted a generally easing saleyard week trend, as the usual trade and processor buyers lowered their rates for most categories. With no vealers offered at the SALE local butchers and wholesalers turned their attention to the yearlings at slightly dearer levels and where quality suited. Grown steers in small numbers remained steady, while cow prices retreated. Naracoorte's yarding of 1,435 was 50 head fewer and also witnessed quality slipping on the previous week. There were also pastoral bred lines of grown steers and bullocks, with some extra heavyweights from Maree that certainly set tongues wagging about their weight, with the first two pens averaging around 820kgs and selling at 160¢/kg lwt. While most categories were cheaper after last week's highs, there were still isolated sales dearer as a couple of feeder orders chased the trade on medium weight yearling heifers.

There were increased numbers of 2,121 head (or 345 more) at Mt. Gambier and has necessitated an earlier start after last week's dear priced sale. With 200¢/kg lwt being passed for grown steers was of little wonder that over 700 were offered. Millicent had an increased yarding containing 587 or 264 head more that also tended to sell at lower levels as supplies now start to outstrip demand a month or so ahead of normal.

A Generally Easing Trend

With only isolated sales dearer, most categories were selling at lower levels. Vealer steers to the trade sold from 178¢ to 228¢ to be 1¢ to 6¢/kg cheaper. Feeder and restocker orders sourced C2 steers from 175¢ to 197c¢, or 1¢ to 8¢/kg less. Vealer heifer sales were erratic as most sold to the trade between 175¢ and 220¢, with an isolated B muscled sale at 235¢/kg. This left prices ranging from 3¢ to 6¢ cheaper, and some sales 13¢ to 15¢/kg dearer where weight and quality suited. Yearling C3 steers sold from 167¢ to 198¢ to be 2¢ to 5¢/kg cheaper. Feeder orders sourced C2 and C3 steers from 170¢ to 191¢/kg, with some sales dearer and others cheaper. The C3 yearling heifers sold mainly from 168¢ to 190¢ at lower rates, with feeders sourcing C2 and C3 heifers from 157¢ to 190¢/kg at dearer levels.

Grown steers in good quality runs were 10¢ to 13¢ cheaper as most C3 and C4 sales ranged between 174¢ and 188¢, and mainly 310¢ to 335¢/kg cwt. Cow prices were 1¢ to 6¢ cheaper, with most D3 to C6 beef cows selling from 125¢ to 174¢ and generally 275¢ to 320¢/kg cwt.

WA Weekly Cattle Summary

Cow Market Again Dearer

There has been some light rainfall recorded in the northern pastoral regions of WA. The southern Ag districts again saw another week of fine and dry weather with most areas now having failed to reach half their average winter rainfall. Despite the reasonable falls of the previous week the very dry state of moist areas saw soils suck this up with little or no runoff seen. The dry conditions were accompanied by cold days and very sold nights with widespread frosting again seen. This has again seen little growth rates out of either pastures or crops in most areas with some in eastern parts having now written the season off. The lack of runoff this year has negatively impacted dam storage levels in a great many regions and this will affect carrying capacity across the hotter months. There remained solid supplies of pastoral cattle, despite the volumes of cattle from the north heading across the border and into the eastern states. Local cattle numbers although larger remained relatively limited which is not unexpected at this time of year.

Muchea remained the largest of the three week sales even though the Great Southern sale rose sharply after the small couple of sales seen previously. Heavy weight steer and heifer numbers continued to be constricted and very limited. Both grass and grain finished trade weight yearlings were also resonantly limited in volume while there continued to be solid supplies of young store cattle available with increased cow numbers penned possibly due to the market rebound of the previous week

Saleyard Quality Very Mixed

There were slightly larger supplies of vealer penned with some producers off loading calves early given the tight fee conditions and an endeavour to save pasture. Subsequently the quality of these remained mixed and generally there was a weaker restocker competition recorded. There was an increase in the quality of grass finished trade weight yearlings this week. This coupled with a slightly stronger local trade demand created slightly dearer rates in both steers and heifers. Grain finished trade weight yearling quality and however were both very mixed. Prime quality drafts recorded premiums from selective local trade and retailer competition with plainer and lighter drafts seeing mixed demand.

The quality and weight of store yearlings continued to be mixed also. Medium weight store steers and heifers saw a weaker feeder demand this week and this saw these rates fall by as much as 10c/kg lwt but the mixed quality of stores also had an impact. Lightweight store steers also saw a weakening in restocker demand and eased in value, while lightweight store heifer rates were relatively unchanged. Cow quality and weight were spread over a wide range. Trade demand again increased on prime heavy weight cows with most rates dearer.

VIC Weekly Cattle Summary

Strong Demand

Shepparton and Wodonga yarded slightly larger numbers, which contributed to overall supply being up by 3% state-wide. Demand was very strong for all classes of young cattle as processors scrambled to secure supply. Some processors wanted cattle home for immediate slaughter on Monday, and this led to some very high prices.

The very high prices reached have not been seen for some time, and both vealers and supplementary fed yearlings topped the state at equal levels. However, it was not only these excellent quality cattle that sold very well. Pound for pound there were some sales of steers and particularly heifers that achieved great results. Also affecting demand in Gippsland markets was the supply, which fell at Pakenham, but was higher at other sales. However, it was grown cattle that improved in supply at all markets reported by MLA's NLRS. This, coupled with quality issues affected the prices at some sales.

Over all markets price averages were 2c easier to 6c/kg dearer, and the EYCI figure closed 2.25c down Thursday evening at 365.25c/kg. Take away some competition issues at Leongatha, which saw bullock prices fall 3c to 8c/kg, and prices were fairly steady. The same could be said for cows, as prices ranged from 5c lower to 6c/kg dearer. Again the overall result was similar to the previous week with the carcass weight price for cows estimated to be 302c/kg.

Vealer Prices Dearer

Excellent quality vealers and supplementary fed yearlings made to a top of 240c/kg with a sale of 6 steers reaching that figure. Away from these, and the few top vealer prices, most vealers made between 175c and 220c/kg. Demand was also very strong for lines of grass and crop finished yearlings. Steers made from 175c to 200c, while most heifers of good quality made between 172c and 199c/kg. Processors have indicated that dressing percentages for these good quality cattle remain at high levels, and meat yields are also good. Feedlots and restockers have been active at all sales, although markets north and west of Melbourne have had the best competition.

Prices paid for a range of steers and heifers were between 170c and 195c for most sales with restockers paying to 235c/kg for light weight vealers. Most prime bullocks made between 175c and 190c with Leongatha sale seeing the main fall in prices losing up to 8c/kg due to the lack of one interstate buyer. Cow prices continued on well with better quality beef cows from 145c to 168c, and leaner grades mostly between 115c and 148c/kg.

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