Tag: Cattle

Friday 13th not unlucky for national cattle prices

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

A positive start for 2017 with gains across the board for national
cattle prices, despite the “Black Friday” finish to the first trading
week. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) up 1% from last
year’s closing price to reach 640.5¢/kg cwt while the National
Medium Steer price, mirroring the percentage EYCI gain, also
1% higher to close at 296.8¢/kg lwt.

Feeder Steers posting the lightest of gains, up a mere 0.8% to
347.6¢/kg lwt. National Heavy Steers back above 300¢ with a
modest 3.4% increase from the 2016 finishing price to test
304¢/kg lwt. Trade Steers the best performers up 6%
to 345.2¢/kg lwt – figure 1.

The positive sentiment has flown through to the annual weaner
sales across the nation with heavier weaners (above 330 kg) fetching
between 350¢ to 400¢/kg lwt and lighter weaners (200-280kg)
going for over 390¢ to 440¢/kg lwt.

As outlined in our analysis piece this week a rebound in US cattle
futures prices (figure 2) have provided some flow through price
support for local cattle prices, relieving some of the downside price
pressure evident into the later months of 2016. Although BOM
three-month outlook to March 2017 suggests somewhat drier
conditions than normal for much of the eastern seaboard which 
may give restockers a reason not to chase prices for young cattle
too high into 2017, particularly if pasture growth begins to wane –
figure 3.

The Week Ahead

As we head into 2017 an anticipated tighter supply of available cattle and improved US cattle prices will continue to support local cattle prices.
On the flip side, a dryer start to the season for much of the eastern
seaboard and the prospect of a market correction into the later part
of 2017 or early/mid 2018 should act as a headwind on
prices outperforming the 2016 peaks.

 

US market and exchange rate showing some reason for optimism

Posted on by Caitlin Dearden

We have been talking about the spectre of a correction in the Australian
cattle market for some time. The main driver behind any fall in prices, apart from local climatic issues, will be the weakness in international cattle markets. There is some reason for optimism however, with US cattle futures making some sort of a comeback in November and December.

Regular readers will be well aware that while the boom in local young cattle prices is reaching fever pitch at the moment, on an international level it is well and truly over. The US is one of Australia’s major markets for manufacturing beef, as well as a competitor in high value markets of Japan and Korea. As such what happens in the US cattle markets will
generally have an impact on our markets at some stage.

Figure 1 shows how US Feeder cattle futures have tanked since
reaching a peak in July 2015. However, US Feeder do seem to have
found some sort of base, having bounced 12% since hitting a 3 year
low in November. We can also see in figure 1 that the US price rally,
along with a fall in the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) means
that after a brief period at a premium, our prices are back at a discount.
Believe it or not, this is a good thing, it means pressure on prices to move lower will ease.

Additionally the easing Aussie dollar has added further upside to US prices in our terms, Feeder cattle futures have gained 16%, adding support for local prices.

In finished cattle markets in the US the price improvement has been
even more marked. Figure 2 shows US Live Cattle Futures, which is
roughly equivalent to heavy grainfed cattle here, has gained 19.5% in
US terms and 23.5% in our terms. This equates to 100¢/kg cwt in our terms,
and basically means that US beef that competes with ours in Japan and
Korea is more expensive than it was two months ago.

Further encouragement for local prices can come from the fact that
Queensland Grainfed Cattle prices have historically spent long periods at or
around parity with US prices. Under a tight supply scenario, there is little
pressure on heavy grainfed cattle prices to fall.

Key points:

  • US Cattle prices have made a recovery from the 3 year lows seen in November.
  • The falling Aussie dollar has added more strength to the US equivalent prices in our terms.
  • If US cattle prices remain strong they should provide support for Australian values.

 

What does this mean?

Before the rally in US cattle prices at the end of 2016 we were concerned about downside for
heavy grainfed, and grassfed cattle. Eventually weaker heavy cattle prices would translate into
feeder and young cattle prices. However, the pressure on heavy cattle values has eased somewhat,
and while the market might struggle to move higher without help from the US, downside is limited
as long as US prices don’t tank again.

Continued strong heavy cattle prices will continue to support young cattle prices, as long as feed
remains abundant and cheap, which it should – at least in the short term.