These 6-14 month old, 250kg Santa steers at Cunnamulla sold for 354c or $885 on Friday

A JUMP in cattle numbers offered last week on AuctionsPlus saw already big numbers in Friday’s Eastern States sales boosted by a Bid the Grid slaughter cattle sale as well as two physical sales interfacing with online bidding, including live audio streaming for online bidders.

Numbers across all sales totalled 13,401 head with 9079 head engaged in Friday’s Eastern States sales.

Most categories of young cattle eased by 5-7c last week, with continuing large numbers available. Young breeders sold well, but older cows proved harder to shift.

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

• Steers under 250kg made 354-384c to average 364c, while heifers in the same weight range made 258c to 362c to average 313c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 329c to 359c averaging 344c, while heifers sold from 208c to 348c to average 297c
• Steers 300-350c made 301c to 350c to average 327c, while heifers made 294-320c, averaging 306c
• Steers over 350kg sold from 280c-370c to average 313c, while heifers in the heaviest weight category made 299c to 308c averaging 303c.

Not included in the above breakdown were 160 lightweight crossbred calves offered out of Jericho in western Queensland, weaned early due to deteriorating seasonal conditions, weighing just over 100kg at 5-8 months, with the steer portion selling for 419c and the heifers making 361c.

Highlights included 6-14 month old Santa steers at Cunnamulla weighing 250kg selling for 354c or $885, Angus heifers at Walcha weighing 232kg selling or 347c or $805, 293kg Red Angus/Simmental steers in central NSW making 337c or $990 and the 287kg heifer portion selling for 348c or $1000, 347kg Angus steers from Walcha making 350c or $1215, Santa heifers from Parkes at 344kg making 320c or $1100 and 355kg Brangus steers from Emerald selling for a massive 370c or $1316.

Plenty of PTIC heifers were on offer yesterday with strong buyer interest, with prices ranging from $1150 to $1900 to average $1437, with the top price paid for Angus heifers at Condobolin, NSW. Young cows on their second to fourth calf sold from $1105 to $1620, with older cows from $1150 to $1650. Mixed age lines made $990 to $1550.

Cows with calves at foot continue to sell well, with first-calf heifers making $1700 to a top of $2340 for Angus heifers and calves in southern NSW. Older cows made $2000 to $2410, topping the sale with three to seven year old Angus cows from Rushworth, northern Victoria with quality AI Angus calves at foot. Mixed age cows with calves sold from $1090 to $1700.

Older cows made $2000 to $2410, topping the sale with three to seven year old Angus cows from Rushworth, Vic with quality AI Angus calves at foot.

Total clearance in strong Jeogla sale

Jeogla Station near Armidale held the second of their annual interfaced Production Sales on Wednesday last week, with online bidders adding plenty of support, purchasing four lots for a total of $118,000.

The sale produced a total clearance of 1605 head, comprising 61 lots – mostly weaner and yearling steers and heifers, plus some PTIC heifers – all EU-accredited, Angus/Shorthorn based.

The PTIC heifer portion sold to $1640 for Angus x Shorthorn heifers 17-18 months 469kg joined to LBW Angus bulls. Heavier feeder-type Angus x Shorthorn heifers 430kg sold to $1290, while the heavier end of the yearling-type heifers sold to $1340, and lighter descriptions around 340kg to $1220, and around 313kg to $900.

The weaned steer portion around 342kg at m10-12 months sold from $990 to $1080, with lighter descriptions around 280kg sold to $930. Weaned heifers 10-12 months at sold from $810 to $830 at the heavier end, with lighter descriptions 220kg making $600-$660.

In an AuctionsPlus first, a multi-vendor feature Angus weaner sale held at Tenterfield saleyards on Thursday allowed online bidders to compete against physical bidders with 51 registered bidders accessing the sale online, purchasing six pens for a total of $71,000 and pushing up prices on many additional lots.

Unweaned steers sold to 370c/kg for 40 Angus and Angus cross steers 7-10 months, 265kg from Tenterfield.

These feeder-type Angus x Shorthorn heifers 430kg sold for $1290 at the Jeogla sale

Click this link to access a full summary of Friday’s AuctionsPlus weekly sale.