These of Angus weaner steers, 247kg at Goondiwindi made 321c or $895 on Friday

CATTLE numbers offered on online cattle marketing platform AuctionsPlus reached 9789 head last week, including two feature annual production sales. Numbers were down 3000 on the previous week.

With continuing dry conditions in the south, and parts of Queensland, it was a tougher day today in terms of clearance rates, but rates for sold cattle were less impacted, with vendors now able to take control and make decisions and negotiate on current market prices.

Breeders found it tough going in Friday’s sale catalogue, as some price expectations appear to remain a couple of weeks behind market indicators.

PTIC heifers sold from $1020 to a top of $1800 for Angus heifers 18-26 months out of Brewarrina NSW.

Young cows PTIC for their second and third calves made $900 to $1455, and older cows sold from $850 to $1530. Heifers with their first calf at foot sold from $1430 to $1940, with the top price being paid for Angus heifers and calves out of Gippsland, Victoria.

Older females with calves at foot sold from $1400 to $1850.

In Tasmania, the annual Panshanger sale of Lawsons-blood Angus females saw three-year-old cows PTIC to Angus top at $1690. The entire offering of 359 head ranging from three to eight years old averaged $1551 for full clearance, and the bulk of the cows coming across to Victoria.

Also in Tassie, Angus weaner steers up to 287kg average liveweight sold from 343c to 391c to average 374c, and heifers up to 265kg made 278c to 320c averaging 298c.

In a breakdown of younger cattle by weight range sold last week:

• Steers under 250kg sold from 301c to 365c to average 337c, while heifers in the same weightrange made from 278c to 330c to average 313c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 291c to 321c averaging 311c; while heifers sold from 281c to 317c averaging 299c
• Steers 300-350kg ranged from 300c to 317c averaging 310c; while heifers in the same weight range went from 246c to 271c, averaging 263c
• Steers 350kg and above sold from 287c to 299c with an average of 293c.

Part of a line of 96 254kg Brahman cross heifers, 8-16 months at Charters Towers, North QLD making 284c/$720 on Friday

Northern highlights included a line of 96 254kg Brahman cross heifers, 8-16 months at Charters Towers, North QLD (pictured above) making 284c/$720, and Angus/Brahman/Droughtmaster steers at Charleville, QLD selling for 313c or $810, 279kg. A line of 102 Droughtmaster cross feeder steers at Tambo, QLD weighing 442kg sold for 287c or $1269.

Further south, a line of Angus weaner steers, 247kg at Goondiwindi made 321c or $895, while Charolais/Brangus heifers at Paterson, in the Hunter region of NSW, 289kg at 7-8 months made 304c or $880.

Source: AuctionsPlus