THE cattle market picked up where it left off at the end of last year and got dearer as the week progressed.
Early in the week, major cattle markets were recording dearer trends as feeder and restocker competition heated up.
The Land’s Yearling Steer Indicator, calculated by Meat and Livestock Australia, settled on 354 cents a kilogram (liveweight) this week which was up 13c/kg on the last week of trading in 2016.
Forbes Livestock and Agency Company director Tim Mackay estimated the prime cattle market was 15 to 20 cents a kilogram dearer right across the board early this week.
“There’s restricted numbers for the early sales, which has ramped up competition,” he said.
At the same time, Mr Mackay said the quality had been really good on the back of a better spring.
“On a cents a kilogram basis, it’s been the restockers and feeders that have been paying the higher prices and that’s what’s really driving the market,” he said.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator started the year on 636.75c/kg (carcase weight) – up just a few cents on its 2016 close.
Meat and Livestock Australia’s price summary at the end of trading last week indicated prime vealers topped at 426c/kg (lwt).
Weaner cattle sales in Victoria also put pressure on the market with the extra supply, although prices at those sales were also dearer.
It left many vendors with big smiles having received the best prices for their weaners at the annual sales ever.
It was a similar story on AuctionsPlus, where although the listing was reduced to 1775 head for the week, that didn’t stop solid prices across the eastern states.
AuctionsPlus representative Emily Porter said large steer numbers were found in Victoria last week, with heavy weights drawing strong feeder and processor competition on several lots.
“South Australia also had several lines of steers with the top price hailing from Mount Gambier for a line of eight- to 10-month-old Simmental-cross steers weighing 318kg (liveweight),” she said.
These steers made 426c/kg or $1355 a head.
Ms Porter said in summary steers weighing 250kg to 300kg sold from 398c/kg to 413c/kg, while those from 300kg to 350kg sold from 350c/kg to 426c/kg.
“For the 350kg to 400kg steers, they sold sold from 361c/kg to 397c/kg, and the heavier 400kg-plus sold from 330c/kg to 379c/kg,” she said.
For heifers sold online last week, Ms Porter said the top line of 300kg heifers hailed from Lady Smith in the Riverina.
The 11- to 12-month-old Angus and Angus-cross heifers were sold for 387c/kg or $1165.
