Naracoorte Cattle Report

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Report Date: 22nd January 2025

Total Yarding: 1,588

Commentary

Modest drop in numbers down to 1588 cattle this week. The regular buying group of feeders, processors and restockers competed in a market that had mixed results. Cows averaged 5c to 10c/kg easier, while the best heavy steers held their value on a week ago. In the young cattle run the better bred and presented types remained in the ballpark price range of a week ago, agents reported.

The best heavy steers weighing between 500-600kg lwt sold to a top of 378c/kg paid by feedlots and it was feeder competition which was the strength of the market on the better bred and shaped grown steers. The price average for heavy grown steers was 350c/kg, which was the highest price point out of all the steer categories. Younger and lighter steers in the 330-400kg range sold to 355c and averaged 328c/kg, according to saleyard data. Overall, most young steers showing reasonable breed quality sold from 310c to 350c/kg lwt. Very plain and crossbred light steers 100c to 250c/kg. In the heifer run the lead pens sold from 310c to 340c/kg, with the plainer grassy types from 255c to 290c/kg for most. There was more grown heifers in the yarding and the main run of 400-500kg types averaged 306c/kg.

About a third of the yarding was cows and the heavier types with fat cover sold to the best demand, with bidding pulled back on the lighter and leaner conditioned lots. It showed up in saleyard averages, with the heaviest cows over 600kg lwt selling to 308c and averaging 294c/kg. The next run of cows down in the 500-600kg weight range and often with less fat cover sold to 305c and averaged 270c/kg. Lightest cows under 500kg averaged 247c/kg with the most secondary cows below 200c at times.

Report compiled remotely by Jenny Kelly.