DIRECT consignment slaughter cattle grids were mostly unchanged across eastern Australia this week, as the recent promising weather forecast failed to deliver for some regions in the northern half of the country.

While there were certainly some very large registrations about, they were patchy at best, and for some, the influence failed to deliver the season-defining moisture of 50-100mm or more many were counting on.

Dry areas that did receive significant falls included Wandoan, Taroom, Injune and back to Roma, but further east onto the Darling Downs and across the border into the New England received only lighter falls.

Another weather pattern is emerging which could deliver some useful rain in southern Australian regions later this week, but it does not look as substantial.

Over the hooks slaughter prices have displayed an unusual level of stability since late November last year, with influences like China quotas, Argentine beef access lifts into the US and a rising A$ value having little material impact. Basic supply and demand have tended to trump these factors, with the shortage of beef globally continuing to help underpin current slaughter cattle markets.

It’s not uncommon for slaughter cattle pricing to change gears between last kills in December and the new season in January. Not this year.

The combination of short processing weeks in early April due to Easter and ANZAC Day holidays, coinciding with the likely filling of the China quota (this year limited to 205,000t), could apply some price pressure on slaughter cattle around that time, some in the trade anticipate.

While some Queensland processors continue to operate without a formal grid in place so far (taking un-priced kill slots only, with prices negotiated closer to slaughter date), others have maintained earlier rates this week.

Southern Queensland operators have grids on good quality heavy cows this morning at 750c/kg. Heavy grassfed ox four teeth are quoted at 830c/kg, with 10c more available on some grids for no HGP. Forward bookings are currently out to March weeks one and two.

After having prices identical with southern parts of the state a week or two earlier due to local supply difficulties, Central Queensland export processors are now back to more typical pricing, being 10-20c/kg behind those in southern parts of Queensland.

Some Queensland processors are still playing catch up with cattle postponed earlier due to rain and local road and paddock conditions, but there have been no serious delays or lost time reported.

Direct consignment offers in southern states remain stable this week. A southern NSW export plant was this morning offering 820c/kg on no-HGP four tooth grass ox, and 740c/kg on best cows.

Export processors in eastern parts of South Australia were showing 840-860c/kg and 790c/kg on steers and cows this morning, respectively. Angus MSA steer 0-4 teeth in one SA grid showed 880c/kg this week, with MSA Angus cow 780c/kg; Non Angus, less 20c.

Already there are signs of southern processors pressing north to secure slaughter cattle again, just as they did for long periods last year. Most of that activity has been via the paddock, reports suggest, with no activity yet in the saleyards system.

Second-hand reports suggest paddock purchases made by Midfield and AMG (now looking for 1000 head a day) in the Darling Downs area, with prices around 780-800c/kg dressed weight equivalent on good heavy cows.

Saleyards trends

Saleyard yardings have mostly grown this week, with the exception of today’s Roma store sale which was cancelled due to rain in parts of the drawing area.

Gunnedah sale this morning lifted by 2100 to 4850 head, with large numbers of cows along with their weaner calves as the local sell-off continues. Limited grown steers and heifers were 10c cheaper with the prime grown steers selling from 394-452c/kg. Prime grown heifers sold from 380-420c/kg. Secondary cows were firm while the better heavy weight cows were 4c/kg dearer. Score 2 and 3 cows sold from 290-362c/kg. Heavy cows sold from 352-382c to average 366c/kg.

Wagga sale yesterday yarded 6580, up 900 on last week. The offering was mostly secondary with very few cattle to suit either domestic or export processors. On the export front, limited numbers distorted price trends. Heavy steers sold from 390-470c/kg, while bullocks lifted 19c making 415-478c/kg. Cow numbers increased and quality declined with more plainer types in the mix. Heavy cows gained 8c, selling 370-397c/kg. Leaner cows les than 520kg slipped 10c, ranging 332–361c/kg.