Some of the 444 Angus x Composite steers 8-9 months from south of Cunnamulla on the western Qld/NSW border, sold in four mobs averaging from 223kg to 271kg that returned 465c/kg or $1260 at the heavier end, to 501c or $1120 at the lighter end on Friday.

LISTING numbers lifted 19 percent from last week’s small sale to 9331 head on AuctionsPlus last week. Buyer confidence improved, with clearance lifting to 70 percent from just 54pc the week before.

Gains across most steer and heifer categories suggest restockers and backgrounders are more confident, actively sourcing cattle, particularly in lighter weight classes.

Interstate purchasing activity expanded to 34pc (+5pp), highlighting strong demand across multiple regions. New South Wales was the greatest listing state with 4372 offered, followed by Queensland with 2183 head. Meanwhile, Queensland’s purchasing activity grew by 161pc, marking the state as the top purchasers, followed by New South Wales.

Six of the nine steer and heifer weight categories in play last week showed price improvement in c/kg terms, with the strength at the lighter end of the spectrum.

Steers 200-280kg were the feature, where 1319 head were offered, clearing 87pc. Prices lifted 40c/kg to average 458c. Heavy feeder steers +400kg lifted 17c from a low base to average 380c/kg, with 88pc of an offering of 879 head finding a home.

Mediumweight steers 280-330kg showed a 21c/kg rise to average 409c, producing a 73pc clearance from an offering of 1000 head.

From Stowport, TAS 17 Angus steers 9-11 months averaging 323kg returned 458c/kg or $1480, and will travel to a buyer near Launceston, TAS.

From south of Cunnamulla on the western Qld/NSW border, 444 Angus x Composite steers 8-9 months sold in four mobs averaging from 223kg to 271kg returned 465c/kg or $1260 at the heavier end, to 501c or $1120 at the lighter end, and will travel to a buyer near Tara, QLD.

Clearances also lifted strongly for the lighter heifer lines, while heavier heifers cleared only 63pc or less.

Best performers were heifers weighing 200-280kg which lifted 24c/kg top average 344c, clearing 90pc of a modest offering of 476 head. Light heifers less than 200kg were unchanged at 410c/kg, while mediumweights 280-330kg edged 4c higher to average 322c, with a clearance of 88pc from an offering of 1021 head.

Heavy heifers + 400kg lost 10c/kg on the previous week to average 318c, but cleared only 44pc.

From Hamilton, SA a line of 46 Angus heifers 18-19 months averaging 315kg returned 333c/kg or $1050, and will travel to a buyer near Stony Creek, VIC.

Breeding females

While breeding stock showed mixed results, the strong performance of SM heifers (up by an average $710) and cow-calf units highlights selective but firm demand.

At the same time PTIC heifers and cows both lost value, with the heifers down $192 and cows $345 on average.

From Cowra, NSW Angus cows 2-3 years averaging 477kg returned $2320/head, and will travel to a buyer near Bathurst, NSW.

Source: AuctionsPlus