Western Australia

Great Southern numbers double
The far north remains wet, while generally things further south have remained fine and dry with many areas continuing to endure drought, wind which has resulted in soil erosion. South coastal, south eastern and parts of the lower Great Southern however received solid falls across last weekend and in early parts of the week. This should be further aided by a forecast of frontal activity for this weekend. Calving remains in full swing with weather conditions continue to show large variations across the State as supplementary feeding remains a high priority. Hay and grain supplies have dwindled under the very high demand this year and the price of both continues to maintain their extreme levels.

The Easter long weekend saw the cancellation of the Southwest sale this week. Midland’s numbers were extremely low, while the two week break in the Great Southern saw Mt Barker’s numbers more than double. Quality remained extremely mixed and was generally fair to plain. Heavy weight steer and heifer supplies were all but non-existent. Trade weight yearling supplies were low also with cow and young lightweight stores being the largest classes sold.

Trade competition continued to fluctuate throughout the classes. The physical market still has to contend with strong supplies being delivered direct to works with killing space consequently remaining at a premium. Feeder demand continues to be high, but very selective in the areas of both weight and quality, while further rainfall will obviously stir grazier demand. Live export demand was non-existent and this gave export feeders the opportunity to capitalise in a weaker market.

Cow rates rise
Vealer supplies were extremely tight. Most were lightweight, which enjoyed aggressive local trade competition. Grain finished trade weight yearlings enjoyed reasonable, local trade and retailer competition on the tight supplies that were available. This increased competition, predominately in steer classes, pushed the market higher by 3¢ to 5¢/kg lwt. Grass finished drafts remained in line with recent weeks quotes once again receiving competition from the trade and feeder sectors. Store quality was very mixed with the vast majority being of lightweight. Medium and heavier drafts received a strong feeder demand, irrespective of sex that created dearer rates. Despite the large volumes of lightweight stores and the mixture in quality, both feeder demand and grazier interest remained solid.

The rates for grown steers and bullocks eased, but this may have been due to the low numbers rather than any retreat in the market. Tighter supplies of cows, coupled with increased demand from both the trade and grazier saw rates rise by approximately 10¢/kg for heavy weight 3 and 4 scores. No change was recorded in heavy weight bull rates, while a plain quality lightweight bull yarding lacked live export demand.

Queensland

Supply increases
A lift in numbers was recorded at physical markets covered by MLAs NLRS as the ongoing dry conditions cover an increasingly wider area. A part of the 20% increase can be attributed to Longreach selling again following a break the previous week. The Easter break reduced supply at some early week markets; however Warwick, Morton and Dalby reported a lift in the number of cattle offered.

Values tumbled for most categories in the mixed quality offerings. Most of the regular buyers were present however bidding was subdued. Cows dominated the export sections and prices generally fell by 4¢ to 11¢/kg. Despite the seasonal outlook, restockers with some feed took advantage of the fall in prices and purchased fairly large numbers of plain condition cows. Good heavy steers and bullocks straight out on the paddock were scarce, nevertheless this could not stop values from falling 2¢ to 4¢/kg. The certified grainfed portion also suffered with losses of 12¢ to 16¢/kg being realised.

The constant increasing supplies of young cattle put downward pressure on demand and values suffered accordingly. Losses of 5¢ to 10¢/kg were very common with some lines considerably more. The only category to go against this trend was well bred vealer steers that attracted very strong support from a limited number of restockers.

The grain market has reacted to the continuing dry weather and the lack of any rain being forecast in the near future. Since Easter the sorghum market has rallied mainly on the back of the harsh weather, and lower yields than expected. Wheat values have also moved higher for old crop, as well as lack of rain to get the new crop in the ground.

Cheaper trend
Calves selling to processors averaged 8¢/kg cheaper at 158¢ while restocker grades mostly sold around 3¢ to 4¢ easier, with poorer grades at 165¢/kg, while better lines averaged 184¢, the occasional sale to 207.2¢/kg. A good line of vealer steers returned to the paddock around 200¢, with some to 226.2¢/kg. Feeder categories generally made around 177¢/kg. Vealer heifers mostly sold to processors, C2s averaged 164¢, while C3s reached 200¢/kg. Lightweight yearling steers to feed lost 11¢ to average 167¢, medium weights fared a little better to lose 5¢ with most in the 170¢/kg range. Yearling heifers to processors fell by 3¢ to 13¢, heavy grades were the least affected at 170¢, while lightweight feeders averaged 152¢/kg.

Medium weight grown steers to feed dropped 3¢ with most sales close to 171¢/kg. Heavy steers to export slaughter averaged close to 167¢ and made to 186¢/kg. A handful of good heavy bullocks generally sold around 180¢, with the certified grainfeds averaging 185¢/kg. Lightweight cows to restockers averaged 83¢, with some younger lines making to 111¢/kg. Medium weight 3 scores to processors averaged 128¢, with heavy 4 scores mostly selling around 135¢/kg.

Victoria

Increased numbers
Cattle numbers at MLA’s NLRS reported saleyards increased 34% after the Easter break, although a different composition of sales were held. There were no Monday sales due to the Easter Monday holiday. Numbers at Pakenham came back considerably at the Tuesday sale although the return of Bairnsdale and a tripling of numbers at Korumburra allowed buyers to source adequate numbers from Gippsland.

In the northern parts of the state and Western Districts seasonal conditions have continued to deteriorate to levels where producers are now being forced to offload larger numbers of plain and unfinished stock. Warrnambool’s penning was almost 3 fold the previous sale and Wodonga yarded 58% more cattle.

There is a noticeable difference in demand between prime and secondary pens at most centres. At Camperdown, quality really slipped from the sale last week, with vealer and yearling heifers lacking yield suffering under weaker feeder and restocker demand. The northern markets of Shepparton and Wodonga experienced a similar trend. Additionally, there were more dairy cattle at these markets, predominantly in the grown heifer and cow portion. With the cooler months approaching dairy farmers are opting for further cull to consolidate herds with the season remaining dry.

Colac was the exception, with an improved offering of cattle that sold to strong demand across most categories. It was the first sale there in a fortnight which assisted, however it was the quality of the milk vealers and the small offering of grown steers which bolstered competition.

Quality dictates price
With larger numbers and another short kill week, competition was weaker across most grades. Lotfeeder and restocker demand was also quieter than fortnight ago levels. Restocker vealer steers averaged 160¢ to 183¢ and vealer heifers 145¢ to 157¢/kg. Vealers to the trade averaged 188¢ for both steers and heifers, with some strong sales later in the week assisting this trend to remain close to firm.

Yearling steers to feed gained 4¢ to average 184¢ and yearling heifers were dearer at 173¢/kg. Slaughter grades of yearlings were 1¢ cheaper, with steers averaging 193¢ and heifers 174¢/kg. Most 1 and 2 scores were significantly cheaper, as were lightweights, which averaged 183¢ for yearling steers and 174¢/kg for heifers.

Grown steers were firm to feeders at 166¢ with suitable stock over 400kg remaining tightly supplied. The C3 and $ scores averaged around firm at 168¢ to 171¢/kg. Dairy cow prices were all cheaper. Lightweights sold from 58¢ to 90¢ and mediums from 85¢ to 91¢, which was 9¢/kg less. The minimal heavy lines sold to 105¢/kg. Beef breeds to processors dropped 3¢ to average 134¢ for medium weights with heavy weights at 130¢/kg.

South Australia

Cattle yardings increase
With only the South East holding sales this week due to Dublin not having another yarding until next Monday because of the Easter Monday holiday, cattle yardings tended to increase. This was despite Naracoorte’s sale only managing 1,313 or 312 head less. Mt. Gambier’s much larger yarding of 2,190 and Millicent’s 940 head led to overall numbers increasing by 622 head.

Quality has remained very mixed with only a few pens of supplementary fed young cattle being offered and their producers were generally rewarded with some good prices. There were many pens of prime grown steers and bullocks at Mt. Gambier together with many 3 to 5 score cows not showing the signs of a very tough year so far. Overall quality has been exacerbated further by another week of hot and dry weather conditions that has turned most regions into dust bowls, with relief in good soaking rains at least another week away. It would be lovely to get back to the once reliable easterly breaks that would drift in for two to three days and drop 2 to 3 inches of soft soaking rain.

Feeder, backgrounding and restocker demand was not as strong as usual at Naracoorte, but was very solid at Mt. Gambier and Millicent, with additional processor orders sourcing well bred steers and heifers. Generally trade and processor purchases were restricted by the lack of quality offered, with supplementary fed prices dearer when one supermarket made an appearance, but other sales tended to slip on young cattle and export categories.

Prices generally lower
While early sales in the week for most young cattle categories attracted weaker trend, by Thursday the strong feeder competition had lifted prices on yearling steers to dearer levels, despite many weighing in excess of 400kgs. Vealer steers to principally feeder and restocker orders were 2¢ to 11¢ easier, selling between 165¢ and 185¢/kg. Most vealer heifers were 4¢ to 7¢ less as most attracted rates between 145¢ and 180¢/kg. However, some spirited Victorian wholesale bidding at Millicent led to light B muscled steers peaking at 219¢, with lightweight heifers topping their brothers at 221¢/kg – these isolated sales being up to 20¢/kg dearer.

Yearling steers sold at rates 1¢ to 4¢ less early in the week, however a good quality run at Millicent sold mainly above 190¢ to be 8¢ to 12¢/kg dearer. This was due to feeders paying above 175¢/kg for most steers. Yearling heifers were 1¢ to 6¢ easier as the majority of sales fell back below 165¢/kg. Medium weight grown steers finished 3¢ dearer, while heavy steers and bullocks were 2¢/kg less, despite overall quality remaining quite good. Plain light cows were up to 20¢ less, while being between 2¢ and 7¢/kg easier over the rest.

New South Wales

Plainer quality yarding
Cattle numbers at MLA’s NLRS reported saleyards increased by nearly 50% in another short trading week, although this was not surprising with only three days of sales last week. Of the regular markets held, Bathurst, Casino, Gunnedah, Inverell and Singleton were larger, while Goulburn and Scone recorded reduced numbers, with no sales in Dubbo and Armidale last week. There were no sales at Forbes, Tamworth or Wagga due to the Easter Monday holiday. Because of this higher numbers are anticipated at these centres in the upcoming week with the first sale in a fortnight and no real autumn break experienced in the drawing area for these centres.

Generally cows, heifers and low yielding young cattle comprised the bulk of the offering as the season continues to deteriorate with elusive follow up rains. Prices reflected the poorer quality yarding, with all categories selling to a cheaper trend. There has tended to be a greater number of lighter and unfinished stock at most centres, with producers offloading under-performing stock and consolidating herds as the temperatures begin to cool down.

All the regular trade buyers were in attendance; however on feeder competition fell away, with demand for grainfed cattle in 100 days time meeting a weaker market and softening lotfeeder confidence. Any feeder cattle over 400kg however remain difficult to source. The typically strong restocker demand at this time of year was subdued, while scarce prime trade cattle at Scone met strong demand from the regular processors who were prepared to pay for the quality and finish.

Cheaper market
Poor quality continues to hold the market to a cheaper trend across all categories, with only the freshest and best finished cattle maintaining reasonable rates. The C2 vealer steers to restockers lost 16c to average 180c, while C2 and C3 vealers to slaughter lost from 9c to 17c to average 172c and 184c/kg respectively, with heifers following a similar trend.

Plainer pens of medium weight C2 yearling steers to restockers suffered a 14c deficit to average 165c, while the better finished pens to the trade averaged up to 198c/kg. Light and medium weight yearling heifers to lot feeders and the trade also slipped back to between 142c and 145c at Goulburn and up to 165c to 178c/kg at Gunnedah.

Medium weight grown steers lost 4c to 9c across the sales to average from 156c to 164c/kg. Limited numbers of heavy steers resulted in a slightly dearer market that averaged from 167c to 172c/kg. Increased numbers of older heifers sold 3c/kg easier.

Cows sold to a mixed trend and traded from firm to 22c/kg easier for the lighter drafts, with Dubbo recording the greatest price drops. Lightweights typically averaged from 96c to 104c and medium weights from 103c to 129c/kg. Heavier pens averaged 115c to 133c/kg.

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