Cracker prices for cows

The ongoing deterioration in feed supplies in some parts of the eastern States has meant many producers have decided to quit their cows rather than invest in feeding to get them through the dry time.

Elders Gunnedah livestock manager Dave Simpson said cow prices have been the best he has seen.

“They (cow prices) might even end up being the best I will ever see,” he said.

He estimated a cull cow in reasonable condition was averaging about $800 to $850 a head through the Gunnedah saleyards, while the top cows were returning as much as $1100 a head.

This meant some producers who had older cows that could have gone in calf another year have instead been sold for slaughter to take advantage of the higher prices.

“There are also a few more cows coming through that have been sold off because they are not in calf,” he said.

As a result, national female cattle throughput was 146,566 head in September and accounted for 55 per cent of total yardings at National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.

NLRS reported while this proportion was back slightly from August (57pc), it had remained above 50pc since July 2013.

The national monthly average medium D3 cow price in September was 158 cents a kilogram.

This was the highest monthly average in 13 years and was pushed along by record high 90CL prices to the US, averaging 682c/kg (free alongside ship) in September, up 62pc year-on-year.

All this came at a time when many producers would usually be joining females, NLRS reported.

But cow and yearling heifer saleyard throughput continued to increase, with 65,938 head and 55,790 head yarded in September, respectively, up 82pc and 56pc year-on-year.

Meat and Livestock Australia forecast the prolonged female turn-off would indeed slow the national herd rebuilding capacity during the coming years, once there was a return to favourable feed and breeding conditions.

At the same time Australian beef exports to the US reached a new monthly record during September, at 47,238t (shipped weight) – more than double the volume of September 2013, and almost 3000t more than the previous monthly record (44,320t in July 2001), according to export statistics from the Department of Agriculture.

MLA said the US market remained primarily supplied with grass-fed beef, which so far this year made up 98pc of Australia’s exports in 2014.

Department of Agriculture figures indicated some of the other significant growth cuts in September to the US included chilled brisket, cube roll, inside and tenderloin, and frozen shin/shank and knuckle.

With the September export figure finalised this brings the year-to-date total to the US to 275,282t.

This was about 120,000t more than the same period last year.

THE season will dictate if Tim Rowland-Jones decides to keep the heifers he bought at the Carcoar sale last Friday.

Mr Rowland-Jones, “Lochwood”, Pyramul, paid $435 a head for 17 Angus heifers and $470 for young Murray Grey steers.

“Depending on how the season turns out I might fatten them for the feedlots or keep them to sell to restockers after they are in calf,” he said.

Either way, he planned to grow out the heifers on native summer grasses.

This was the first time Mr Rowland-Jones had bought at the sale in two years and was very happy with the good line up of cattle offered.

“I was happy with what I paid for the cattle and it was a good sale,” he said.

“We will keep the steers on for about a year or so and grow them out.”

Mr Rowland-Jones runs about 80 Limousin breeders and grows a few calves out for the trade.

He also runs some crossbreds for the prime lamb trade and puts in a few crops.