The national average weaner calf price increased by 0.8% to R30.74 per kilogram for calves between 200 and 250kg. Direct sales were about R1 higher than auctions at R31.79 per kg last week for this specific weight class. Last year, prices traded at R33.67 at this time. Lighter calves under 200kg dropped to R30.08, while heavier calves over 250kg traded at R30.72, and I wonder if the demand has now shifted to heavier calves. The average price in the Free State traded at R30.32, while the price in the Northern Cape dropped to R28.32. The A2/3 carcass price traded at R52.49, while the C-grade price increased to R44.34 per kilogram.
In the sheep industry, the national average feeder lamb price dropped to R39.70 per kilogram, with the average slaughter lamb price also lower at R39.29. Looking at direct sales, the feeder lamb price stood at R40.54, and slaughter lambs at R39.19. The average feeder lamb price in the Free State traded at R40.52, while the price in the Northern Cape fell to R39.43 per kilogram. Although there is no export ban, there is currently a problem with exporting meat to the Middle East due to some airlines not wanting to land in the region because of the war. This put pressure on prices last week, with the A2/3 price dropping unexpectedly to R88.96, while the C2/3 price decreased to R63.32 per kilogram. I believe the price could recover if exports resume, with good demand expected until the beginning of December. In the wool market, prices remained stable, with the RWS price at R164.18 per kg, while the non-RWS price traded at R161.97 per kilogram. In Australia, average wool prices also remained steady at AUS $11.38 per kilogram, with demand staying relatively strong. It seems buyers have held back a bit, waiting for new demand signals before driving prices higher.
Poultry prices remained unchanged, with the frozen ex-abattoir price at R34.42, fresh prices rising to R34.34, and IQF prices increasing to R31.48. As mentioned last week, these prices should still get some support due to potentially better demand until the first week of November. After that, unfortunately, prices may begin to drop again.
As expected, the latest baconer price also remained steady last week at R32.75, while the porker price dropped slightly to R33.23, and the latest sausage pork price remained steady at R25.21 per kilogram. I think these prices could see a small increase until the first week of November, after which they should hold those levels until just before Christmas. However, prices are likely to drop sharply again in the new year.
Looking at this week’s goat auction prices, we saw the latest large goat price increase to R39.65, small goat prices drop to R70.65, while doe prices decreased to R53.31 last week.
Moving on to the feed market, we saw that most prices did rise. The latest average Grade 1 lucerne price for producers dropped to R3,100 per ton, Supreme at R3,950, and Grade 2 down to R2,650 per ton. The higher lucerne prices are due to more exports, and Supremes are in high demand, especially in the Western Cape, while most Grade 2s are now heading to the Eastern Cape. The drier conditions have also stimulated better demand from feed factories.
We also saw that there is now a reasonable shortage of chop in the market, with the average chop price still at R4,350 per ton last week, with some prices advertised as high as R4,600. The shortage is due to fewer white maize crops being milled, and mills are struggling at the moment. White flour is barely selling, but the better chop price brings some relief to the struggling mills. This trend is likely to worsen as the year progresses, with white maize remaining relatively scarce.