SUPPLY of cattle varied across the regular cattle markets with most offering increased numbers. Much of the comment about quality was negative, as more cattle are being sold before any cold weather hits.
Some areas of the state are experiencing cool to cold autumn mornings, while northern and north eastern districts have been warmer. It is quite noticeable that the now short pick of green grass and the cooler nights is affecting the condition of many cattle.
Concentrating on the major markets over the past week shows the general trend being weaker. Poor demand for cows has seen prices drop between 10 & 25 cents per kilogram liveweight, although this has occurred after a strong sale or two straight after Easter.
In trade sales, very isolated sales of top quality vealers made to 350c/kg at Pakenham Monday, which i believe was only a single calf. Most vealers sold from 280-325c/kg, only odd sales were higher, especially as the week progressed.
Demand from buyers of feeder steers and heifers waned at all sales, which decreased prices mostly from 5-12c/kg, and was in line with prices listed on MLA’s Eastern Feeder Cattle Report this Tuesday.
Wagga Wagga offered a very large offering of nearly 5,000 head with over half being yearling steers and heifers. Most of the steers, and a large percentage of the heifers were purchased for grain feeding with steers selling mostly between 280 & 328c/kg. The heifer portion sold from 250-308c/kg for most sales. I haven’t come across a buyer or processor who has given a glowing report of meat sales. All have said that meat is hard to sell, and they want prices to come back. This is happening at the moment, but as the autumn sets in, we may see numbers reduce, especially if prices continue to fall.
Export processors have given every indication of lower prices too. One company has been telling its regular suppliers that they will be cutting 10-20c/kg off their grid price next week. However, when quoting cheaper prices at this week’s sales, some of this was quality driven. To this end, looking at Leongatha last Wednesday, prime bullocks still sold to 308c, and good quality, heavy, manufacturing bullocks reached 284c/kg lwt.
Monday and Tuesday, this week saw grown steer and bullock prices ease back with most selling from 280-298c/kg lwt.
The supply of cows has remained very high with Leongatha offering 1,200 head, Wagga around 900,and Shepparton also close to 900 head. Camperdown market, Tuesday, offered over 600 cows, and many of the cows at all markets are lean dairy cows.
Better quality cows were all cheaper with most selling between 210 & 245c/kg, while better quality dairy cows sold to a range of 185-210c/kg.
Some of the large supply of cows, especially in Gippsland markets, can be explained away by the continued closure of Tabro Meats, the downsizing of hours at all other abattoirs. G&K O’Connor are back to three days, JBS & AMG four days with further potential changes.
