Auctionsplus: How much cattle sold for online in the 2021-22 financial year

It was a stellar year for online selling platform Auctionsplus. See the breakdown for how much steer and heifer prices increased.

End of financial year analysis by online selling platform AuctionsPlus show cattle prices rose by an average of 32 per cent and record prices set.

Rates lifted across the board with some categories up by 44 per cent, a massive jump on the year before.

AuctionsPlus senior analyst Damien Thomson said the past financial year mild summer conditions and ongoing pasture growth combined with a rebuild focus pushed prices to their highest in January.

He said young steer rates increased 28 per cent year-on-year while heifers were up 32 per cent, and breeding females lifted 33 per cent in the past financial year “re-enforcing the strong herd rebuilding focus”.

The star performer however was heifers which were pregnancy-tested-in-calf, which averaged $2796 across the financial year (up 29 per cent on the year before) and peaked at an average of $3174 in January.

“Heifers performed better overall than cows in every female breeding category, with higher average prices across the board achieving a price premium of 8 per cent,” Mr Thomson said.

“Improved genetics and the extra years of reproductive productivity and likely the most significant drivers for the preference for heifers.

“The premium between heifers and cows demonstrates the confidence from producers and highlights their long-term outlook rather than short-term trading.”

A breakdown on some of the other figures includes:

200-280kg steers averaged $1745.

200-280kg heifers averaged $1588.

A RECORD number of heavy steers over 400kg were sold (53,512, average price $2462).

Meanwhile, it was a different story for AuctionsPlus last week with its weekly report describing the market as “very tough”.

Prices were quoted as up to $170 cheaper and clearances were down to as low as 50 per cent of stock listed online.