These 198kg Wagyu x Angus F1 weaned steers from Doughboy Pastoral Co, Bellbrook, NSW set a new AuctionsPlus record on Friday, selling for 709c/kg liveweight, on-farm.

YOUNG cattle again dominated listings on AuctionsPlus last week, where there was a 30 percent rise in catalogue numbers to 7000 head.

Breeder listings were steady on last week, while restockers and lotfeeders were in strong competition for the good numbers of young cattle across the Eastern States.

While the volume of Wagyu cattle traded is not particularly noteworthy, it was hard to ignore the blistering prices paid again last week for young Wagyu-influenced backgrounder cattle by feedlots and their supply chain partners.

A line of 76 198kg  Wagyu x Angus F1 weaned steers offered by the aptly named Doughboy Pastoral Co out of Bellbrook, on the NSW North Coast set a new AuctionsPlus c/kg record, making 709c/kg liveweight, on-farm. That valued the 7-9 month old backgrounder calves at an unbelievable $1405 each.

Critically, so far as Wagyu feedlot operators are concerned, the F1s carried desirable sire-line genetics, being by Fullblood Japanese Wagyu bulls from the high-performance Greenhills Wagyu herd, now owned by mining magnate Gina Rinehart (see earlier report). Certificates for all bulls used were provided as an attachment to the listing.

Specialist Wagyu feedlot operators constantly stress the importance of the right sire genetics in Wagyu F1 programs. F1 calves by sub-optimal Wagyu sire lines often suffer a significant price penalty in the market, due to inconsistent marbling performance. Intending first time breeders should consult a reputable Wagyu feeder for advice before making any breeding decisions, in Beef Central’s opinion.

The record-setting backgrounder steers are heading from their home in the NSW North Coast region down to the Riverina, adding a further freight cost component to their landed price. Their half-siblings offered in Friday’s sale also sold very well, with a pen of 30 heavier brothers averaging 255kg making 653c/kg or $1665, while their 215kg sisters, 63 in number, made 655c/kg or $1410. It meant that the 169 calves involved in the three lots, all nine months of age or younger, generated almost $246,000 in income.

To put these prices into some context, a typical 560kg liveweight grassfed four-tooth steer was this time last year worth about the same money in southern Queensland export slaughter plants as the record-setting calves, before grid discounts.

Other strong Wagyu results seen in Friday’s AuctionsPlus sales included a line of PTIC Wagyu x Angus heifers which made $1880. These 15-18 month old heifers from Cambooya, QLD, coincidentally also PTIC to Greenhills Wagyu bulls.

A line of 128 well-handled Charbray x Brahman backgrounder steers ex Railview, near Prairie in North Queensland, 297kg at 18-22 months after two dry years, made 355c/kg on Friday, while a further 90 heavier steers, 342kg from the same vendor, advertised on Beef Central last week, made 356c.

In a breakdown of last week’s young cattle sold, by weightrange:

• Steers weighing less that 250kg sold from 344c to 490c to average 437c/kg, up 8c; while heifers in the same weightrange sold from 315c to 430c to average 376c, eased 9c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 339c to 435c averaging 392c, up 2c; while heifers made 347-437c to average 372c, up 8c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 346c to 435c to average 392c, unchanged; while heifers sold from 296c to 375c to average 356c
• Steers more than 350kg sold from 363-391c to average 382c, while heifers sold from 292c to 371c to average 343c.

Heifers dominate breeding cattle

The majority of the PTIC females offered last week were heifers. Prices ranged from $1100 to $1520, averaging $1355.

Topping this market segment were 22-24 month old Angus heifers from Bathurst, NSW averaging 359kg and are PTIC to Millah Murrah Angus bulls.

A tidy line of 205 Braford proven breeders from St George, QLD will need to pack their winter woollies as they are heading south to the Southern Tablelands of NSW. These 4-8 year old cows, all 510kg plus and PTIC to Braford bulls, sold in four lines from $1530 to $1650.

Cow and calf prices were strong again this week, the top priced lot was a line of Blonde Aquitaine cross Shorthorns which made an impressive $2670. These proven breeders have Speckle Park calves at foot weighing in at an average 179 kg. These cows were PTIC back to Speckle Park bulls.

Part of a tidy line of 205 Braford proven breeders 4-8 years from St George, QLD that sold to southern NSW buyers on Friday for between $1530 and $1650.

Coming up on AuctionsPlus:

Stocktake, Richmond will list 800 North Queensland bred indicus-type heifers on this Friday’s AuctionsPlus sale, August 12. The offering will comprise 400 PTIC heifers and 400 PTE heifers, all account Harris Beef in the gulf. Luke Westaway is the contact until the listing is posted – 0413 408 953.

The next AuctionsPlus Targeted Feeder sale is on this Tuesday at 9am, with 470 head available, mostly being offered on a forward contract basis for October and November delivery. Click here for the catalogue.

Click here to access full summary of Friday’s AuctionsPlus sale.