These polled Red Brahman unjoined heifers 9-18 months averaging 287kg from Condamine, Qld made an outstanding 513c or $1525 a head on Friday.

THE last weeks of January and the start of February have seen record breaking temperatures across parts of Eastern Australia, with hot and dry weather forecast to continue across most of NSW and Queensland for the rest of the month.

Although this heat is significantly affecting last year’s remaining feed, a positive is that the cattle market remains strong, which was evident on AuctionsPlus this week.

Online listings saw 9899 cattle for the week, an increase of 23 percent from the previous week. Volume was boosted by the Naracoorte Nampara Female Feature Sale.

In a breakdown of young cattle sold, by weightrange:

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 388c/kg to 487c/kg, averaging 431c; while heifers in the same weight range sold from 351-437c, averaging 375c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 382-448c, averaging 410c; while heifers sold from 304-513c, averaging 374c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 343-389c, averaging 366c; while heifers sold from 318-366c, averaging 344c
• Steers 350-400kg sold from 318-378c, averaging 362c; while heifers sold from 325-402c, averaging 341c
• Heifers 400kg + sold from 320-323c, averaging 321c.

Among young steer offerings this week, a line of 54 Angus cross steers, 327kg at 14-20 months from Hannaford, QLD destined for fattening or backgrounding sold for 350c/kg or $1145 a head.

These Angus x Hereford yearling steers 395kg from Woodside, VIC made an impressive 368c or $1460.

Further south, a line of heavy weaner Hereford steers 370kg from Coolah, NSW made 357c or $1325, while Angus and Hereford yearling steers 395kg from Woodside, VIC made an impressive 368c or $1460.

A larger line of 118 Angus feeder steers, 16-19 months and weighing from 332-446kg (avg 371kg) out of Pallamallawa in northern NSW, mostly Banquet blood, made 368.5c or $1299 a head.

Heifers lines were well represented this week.

At Condamine, QLD, a line of polled Red Brahman unjoined heifers 9-18 months averaging 287kg made an outstanding 513c or $1525 a head. The heifers were originally going to be kept for commercial breeders, but were offered by the vendor to make room for cows and calves.

In Deepwater, NSW 410kg heavy feeder heifers made 323c or $1325 a head, while in Western Australia, Lawsons blood Angus weaned heifers from Northcliffe weighing 373kg made a notable 410c or $1500 a head.

Breeding cattle

Preg tested in-calf and joined females were in high demand with solid prices seen across all ages. Two-year-old Angus cross heifers from Coonalpyn, SA – PTIC to low birth weight Raven Limousin bulls and due to calf in the autumn – sold for $2300.

A line of 40 3-4-year-old Wongaru blood cows from Lal Lal, VIC sold for an impressive $2720, while their sisters. 30-32 months weighing slightly lighter at 538kg, made $2740. These girls are only heading short distance away where they will drop their Angus autumn calves.

Part of a line of a line of 40 3-4-year-old Angus cows from Lal Lal, VIC sold for an impressive $2720.

As part of a dispersal, a small line of Angus and Shorthorn cows and calves from Crookwell, NSW made $2720. In this 3-in-1 deal, the Irelands and Kenny’s Creek blood cows have 5-6-month old Angus calves at foot and are preg-tested back to Irelands Angus bulls.

From Coonalpyn, SA, older 2-6-year-old Angus and Hereford cross cows made $2350. The unjoined cows have fresh Limousins and Simmental calves at foot and are heading interstate to Western NSW.

Feature lines coming up on AuctionsPlus, Fri 10 Feb:

• VIC: 400 outstanding Angus heifers out of Mortlake and Phillip Island, VIC – including 360 PTIC to Te Mania bulls for March calving; 44 x 44 heifers and calves and PTIC for early spring calving. Contact Don Bowman Elders Korumburra 0429 801138.
• QLD: 200 commercial Santa heifers, 12-18 months EU-accredited, ready to join; 240 Santa steers, all account Sargood family, Drensmaine.  Contact Elders Charleville, Qld: Keith Richardson 0427 457 487.
• NSW: 128 Glen Innes-bred EU Ironbark blood Hereford steers, 74 EU black baldy steers and heifers Contact: Geoff Hayes, Ray White Rural Glen Innes 0429 201 120.