ISOLATED, patchy rainfall over the past week has not been enough to budge direct consignment grid offers across the eastern states, with most grids unchanged on this time last week.
Rain of 25-50mm and up to 100mm in places over the past week was confined mostly to coastal areas where the cattle supply impact is less, with some decent falls across the western Darling Downs, New England and the eastern parts of central NSW.
Impact from the rain, and prospects for some further falls, was seen mostly in smaller saleyards yardings early this week.
Meanwhile, direct consignment slaughter rates across eastern and southern states are mostly steady again this week, with few changes evident since early in August.
Competitive quotes in southern Queensland this morning had heavy slaughter cows +300kg at 640c/kg, and four-tooth grass ox 700-710c/kg. Central Queensland plants are 10c or 20c/kg behind those offers.
Unconfirmed reports have some forward contracts on 100-day grainfed flatbacks delivered southeast Queensland for December delivery on 770c/kg, up 30c on November cattle.
Most Queensland processors appear to have bookings covered reasonably well out to week commencing 15 September.
Feeder cattle markets have shown more movement, with some paddock offers of 445c/kg for flatbacks +400kg around southern Queensland this morning, up 15c on earlier rates. That reflects feeder prices seen in the saleyards channel early this week (see summary below).
Similarly in southern states, there are few changes evident in over-the-hooks markets this week. We’ve seen grids in eastern parts of South Australia and southern NSW this morning at 720c/kg on heavy cows, and grass four-tooth ox no implant 790c.
Queensland export processors report a few more oats-finished cattle evident in kill rosters this week, as September beckons, but are realistically not expecting a rush of oats cattle because much of that feed resource these days is used to background young cattle heading to feedlots, rather than heavy ox.
Second-round musters are now in full swing across much of north and northwest Queensland and the NT.
Given the very late start to the year in many extensive areas after big February-March rain, does it suggest there will be late process cattle arriving out of Central and Northern Australia?, Beef Central asked.
“But just remember, that northwest Queensland region where there was a fair few bullocks on grass, they had a very, very good season. A lot of those cattle did better than expected, and have already gone for processing – some as far as Victoria,” one local cattle buyer said.
“Normally, those bullocks would go to Dinmore or Teys in late September or October, but they have already been taken out,” he said.
That sets up the potential for a shortage of good grass cattle come November-December this year in Queensland, once the second round cow musters in the north wind-up. Fewer oats bullocks than what has been seen traditionally could also contribute to that.
“It could get tough for Queensland processors over the final couple of months of 2025, supply wise,” the cattle buyer said.
Slaughter numbers ease
Led by declines in Victoria over the past four weeks as some southern processors wind-back shifts to better align with expensive cattle supply, the national adult cattle slaughter last week reached 152,381 head.
The overall figure was up 5700 on the previous week, entirely accounted-for by Queensland, where last week’s kill lifted 5952 head last week to 79,961 head. That movement was mostly in response to Brisbane Show holiday closures the previous week for some plants in the state’s southeast corner.
Other states showed only minor adjustments on the previous week, with NSW down 183 head to 35,396 head, and South Australia down 60 head to 3763 head.
Some larger integrated lotfeeder-processors are supplementing kills in their NSW and Victorian sheds with more grainfeds from yards further north, Beef Central was told.
Saleyards impacted by rain
In saleyards activity early this week, Gunnedah sale this morning saw numbers halved to 2150 head due to recent rain across the supply area. The heavy yearling steers and heifers to feed sold to dearer trends as did the heavy cows to processors lifting in price from 23-27c/kg. Bullocks to processors sold to 432c/kg. Grown heifers to processors made 450c to average 420c/kg. Light weight score 2 cows to processors topped 366c to average 353c/kg. Heavy score 3 cows averaged 352c with the best cows topping at 421c to average 400c/kg.
Wagga sale yesterday was also impacted by rain, with the yarding down by one third to 2040 head. Heavy cattle +500kg have become scarce, and the overall quality of the yarding was mostly secondary, with well-finished types in limited supply. Processors struggled to secure adequate numbers. On the export front, very few cattle were suitable for processors, with the bulk selling for prices ranging from 455-506c/kg. Heavy heifers attracted strong bidding, selling between 418-490c/kg. The yarding of cows was mixed, with big heavy types in short supply. Heavy cows firmed as the sale progressed, making from 366-411c/kg, while leaner types less than 520kg sold from 270-387c/kg.
Anticipated rain significantly impacted numbers at Wodonga this morning, where only 450 were yarded. Numbers almost halved on the anticipation of rain. Cows made up a fair portion of the offering. On the export side, well-bred steers 500-700kg were primarily purchased by feedlots, with prices ranging from 480-490c/kg. Heavy steers and bullocks suitable for processors sold from 440-465c/kg. In the cow sale prices were very erratic, with heavy cows making from 395-422c/kg. Leaner cows were limited selling from 310-366c.
Even with beneficial rain in the supply region, Roma yarded 8372 head this morning. Cows were yet to sell at the time that this interim report was filed, but the market was reported improved 10-15c/kg for some descriptions. A small number of grown steers 400-500kg made to 438c/kg to feed. Grown steers 500-600kg were few in number, making to 421c/kg. Bullocks +600kg made to 413c/kg to processors. Full report tomorrow.