RAIN across northern NSW and Queensland during the weekend has put some confidence back into the cattle market across the eastern States.
At early sales this week, prices were stronger than the week before and continued the dearer trend that was starting to develop at the end of last week.
Tuesday night’s Eastern Young Cattle Indicator stood at 351 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) which was about 12c/kg dearer than at the same time last week.
The sniff of rain at the end of last week also helped prop-up prices on AuctionsPlus.
Anna Adams from AuctionsPlus said numbers across both species increased, with many producers hoping to capture a premium on the hope the forecast rain arrived.
“Cattle numbers jumped by 1000 head to 4610 and included big numbers out of Queensland achieving excellent clearance rates and well exceeding vendor expectations in most cases,” she said.
Ms Adams said all but two lines of steers sold for more than 200c/kg (liveweight), while the heavier end of heifers attracted attention from feedlots and future breeders.
“Female prices were aided on Friday by increased processor activity as well as restockers banking on rain,” she said.
“Cows offered out of Central Qld were a highlight, all making between $70 and $220 above the reserve price, and some journeying to central NSW.
“Young cows with calves at foot sold from $940 to $1200, and mixed age lines made $700 to $830.”
At regular prime sales early this week, supply slumped due to the rain.
Tamworth’s weekly prime market yarded only 590 head, which was almost half the size of the sale last week.
The market was also dearer and the National Livestock Reporting Service said young steers returning to the paddock gained 14c/kg and a pen of Angus weaners reached a top of 222c/kg.
Feedlots and restockers were most dominant on the yearlings, taking the bulk of this category at dearer rates than last week.
Likewise, at Forbes on Monday supply also halved to about 1650 head leading to strong competition from both feedlots, restockers and processors.
Forbes Livestock and Agency Company agent Tim Mackay said yearling steers to feed were in limited supply and lifted 15c/kg, selling from 185c/kg to 214c/kg for medium and heavy weights.
“The quality was much better this week too and it was reflected in the prices,” Mr Mackay said.
G.J. Hulm and Company agent Tyler Pendergast, Tumut, said supply slumped at the Wagga Wagga cattle sale on Monday, even though the district didn’t recieve a lot of rain during the weekend.
“Even so, the market was dearer particularly for any cattle showing a bit of weight,” Mr Pendergast said.
“We drew for 4700 head and yarded 3800 which shows that supply is certainly beginning to tighten up.
“There are not too many restocker type cattle being offered, but if we wait a few weeks, I expect we might start to see a few more restockers in the market looking for cattle.”
On the international front, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported the total value of Australia’s red meat exports for 2013-14 surged 31 per cent on the previous year, to $8.96 billion.
For Australian beef and veal exports in 2013-14, the total value of shipments increased 27pc on the previous year, to $6.4 billion.
Meat and Livestock Australia reported that contributing to the 27pc year-on-year increase, and the 11pc lower Australian dollar, was a 17pc increase in total export volumes for the period, to 1.18 million tonnes (shipped weight).
For beef and veal exports, the main markets which contributed to the increased export values for the year were the US (up 40pc, to $1.36 billion), China (up 93pc, to $791 million), Korea (up 27pc,
at $895 million), Indonesia (up 88pc, to $258 million) and the Middle East (up 41pc, to $354 million).
Bourke’s top sale at Dubbo
THEIR annual weaner production turn-off is a month later this year due to seasonal setbacks, but, Mick and Michaela Fisher, Kilberoo Station, Bourke, were pleased with the sale result of their cattle last week.
Mr and Mrs Fisher sold 220 Angus/Brahman and Angus/Brangus weaner steers, aged eight to 10 months, for $410 to $630 during the Dubbo sale last Friday.
The line averaged $535, which put an added smile on their faces after getting 72 millimetres of rain between last Thursday and Sunday.
Mr Fisher said the mix of Ebbwvale Angus blood and running their 600 breeders on the 12,000 hectare Cuttaburra basin flood plain on “Kilberoo”, helped to turn-off the weaners earlier than most in the Bourke region following a good break in March/April.
Carter Lindsay Weber selling agent Matthew Weber, Dubbo, is pictured with the pen of Angus/Brangus weaner steers that topped at $630 and Mr Fisher’s father, Bruce Fisher.
Bruce is now retired in Dubbo, but said he enjoyed keeping an eye on the sale for his son.
– MARK GRIGGS