Part of a line of 40 Lawsons blood Angus steers from Adelong, NSW, 10-11 months averaging 348kg which made 447c this week. They will travel to Rosewood, NSW.

COWS & calves and PTIC females showed sharp rises in value on AuctionsPlus this week, where numbers offered declined by about 2500 head to 17,187 head listed.

Competition was strong among weaner steers and heifers which saw prices mostly firm to dearer. PTIC cows and cows with calves at foot increased by an average $234 and $333 respectively, highlighting the continuing restocking demand.

Western Queensland dominated supply, with 2427 head offered, 14pc of the overall catalogue. The NSW Northwest Slopes & Plains was the largest purchasing region, accounting for almost 2000 head, 19pc of all cattle sold.

Competition for breeding stock was considerably subdued this week as clearance was down for each category, however prices for those that sold remained strong. A smaller offering of 1743 PTIC cows helped prices bounce back from last week; selling from $1540 and $2400, they averaged $1996.

Top price was achieved by a line of rising four year old Poll Hereford, Shorthorn and Angus cows averaging 614kg. Offered by Magill Pty Ltd from Texas, QLD the cows were 7-9 months PTIC to Angus bulls and will travel to nearby Inverell, NSW. Another highlight was a line of rising five year old PTIC Angus cows averaging 523kg from Uralla, NSW selling for $2350.

PTIC heifers sold from $1260 to $1700 this week, averaging $1388, back $419. Baxa Pastoral Co from Euroa, VIC offered the top priced lot of PTIC Angus heifers, rising two year olds, averaging 503kg which will remain locally. From Cootamundra, NSW, a line of rising two year old Angus and Angus cross heifers averaging 361kg sold for $1600.

Cows with calves at foot prices ranged from $1650 to $2950 this week to average $2357, $375 dearer. Top price went to Denman Partnership from Gulargambone, NSW which offered 40 station mated Angus and Angus cross cows with 41 calves. The 3-4 year old cows had Kidman and Waitara bloodlines and their 3-4 month old CAF were by Mooroobie blood Angus bulls.

From Benalla, VIC, a line of 4-5 year old Angus and Angus cross station mated cows with 3-4 month old Te Mania and Ardrossan Angus blood CAF sold for $2870.

Young cattle

Steer numbers increased slightly this week with 6757 offered, 100 more than last. Demand for weaner steers improved to see 82pc clearance achieved, a considerable increase from 69pc last week. Light steers less than 200kg sold from 388c and 567c to average 484c, back 40c. Top price went to a line of 25 Angus and Angus x steers offered by Nelanglo Station, Gundaroo, NSW. The Bannaby Angus blood steers were 6-7 months averaging 189kg and will travel to Goulburn, NSW. From Mount Cole, VIC, 40 Barwidgee blood Angus steers 8-9 months averaging 199kg, sold for 552c.

Steers averaging 200-280kg were priced from 407c and 582c this week, averaging 457c, easing 11c. From Bombala, NSW, Lowanna Properties offered 68 Angus steers, including the  top priced line of 8-9 months old steers averaging 209kg, which will travel to Cootamundra, NSW. Another highlight saw a line of Angus steers, 9-10 months, averaging 201kg from Colac, VIC, selling for 521c.

Steers, 280-300kg, sold from from 289c and 475c to average 431c, gaining 4c. Top price hailed from Wargoona Grazing, Birregurra, offering 45 Angus backgrounder steers 11-12 months averaging 295kg, which will remain locally. Across the border in Greenways, SA, also returning top price was a line of Angus steers, 7-10 months, averaging 282kg.

Prices for feeder steers 330-400kg ranged from 346c to 447c this week, averaging 409c, back 13c. From Adelong, NSW, 40 Angus steers offered by DL Casey & HM Alkumaa achieved the highest price. The Lawson blood steers were 10-11 months averaging 348kg and will travel to Rosewood, NSW. Another highlight was a line of 54 Angus steers of Bongongo blood, 12-13 months averaging 364kg selling for 431c.

There were no steers averaging over 400kg offered this week.

There were 6217 heifers offered this week, 224 less than last. Demand for weaner heifers was the strongest out of all the stock categories, achieving 92pc clearance. Light heifers averaging less than 200kg sold from 340c and 531c, averaging 489c, 25c dearer than last.

Top price went to a line of 47 Angus heifers, offered by Howells & Sons from Mount Cole, VIC. The Barwidgee blood heifers were 8-9 months averaging 190kg and will travel to Redan, VIC. Further north in Walcha, NSW, a line of 16 Rennylea-blood Angus heifers, 7-9 months averaging 198kg, sold for 511c.

Heifers averaging 200-280kg were back by 22c to average 436c this week with prices ranging from 354c and 583c. From Tenterfield, NSW, Christine Dowling offered the top priced lot with 15 Speckle Park/Angus x heifers. The NSM future breeders were 12-13 months averaging 259kg and are making a long journey north to Cloncurry, QLD. Another highlight was a line of 60 Angus heifers, 9-10 months averaging 268kg, from Singleton, NSW, selling for 538c.

Heifers 280-330kg sold from 331c and 440c this week, averaging 390c, easing 19c. Top price hailed from Tippendale South, St George, QLD, offering 56 Santa x Angus heifers. The EU accredited heifers were 6-11 months averaging 298kg and had Yarrawonga Waco Santa and Carabah Angus bloodlines. From Walcha, NSW, a line of 53 EU accredited Angus x Hereford heifers, 9-10 months averaging 312kg, sold for 437c.

Feeder heifers 330-400kg eased 10c, selling from 335c and 429c, averaging 373c. From Upper Horton, NSW, a line of 90 NSM Angus heifers achieved the highest price. The Bowen & Hazeldean blood future breeders were 12-15 months averaging 333kg and will travel to Warialda, NSW. From Blowhard, VIC, 59 Barwidgee blood NSM Angus heifers 13-14 months averaging 358kg, sold for 405c. As with the steers, there were no heifers averaging over 400kg offered this week.

In Tasmania, cattle numbers were back by 154 head for a reduced offering of 211. Weaned steers sold from 420c to 429c to average 424c. Top price was achieved by a line of Limousin x Hereford unweaned steers, 9-10 months averaging 277kg from Caveside. Weaned heifer prices ranged from 373c to 392c to average 380c. From Winnaleah, 7-9 month old Angus heifers averaging 212kg sold for the top price of 392c.

There were 481 head offered from Western Australia this week, 393 more than last. Highlights include weaner steers, 4-6 months averaging 235kg from Northcliffe selling for 417c. Another highlight was a line of weaner heifers from the same vendor, 4-6 months averaging 218kg, selling for 392c.

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

• Less than 200kg: Steers sold from 388-567c/kg to average 477c; while heifers sold from 339c/kg to 531c/kg to average 489c/kg
• 200-280kg: Steers sold from 407c/kg to 581c/kg to average 457c/kg; while heifers sold from 354c/kg to 583c/kg to average 436c/kg
• 280-330kg: Steers sold from 289c/kg to 475c/kg to average 431c/kg; while heifers sold from 331c/kg to 440c/kg to average 390c/kg
• 330-400kg: Steers sold from 346c/kg to 446c/kg to average 409c/kg; while heifers sold from 335c/kg to 429c/kg to average 373c/kg

Source: AuctionsPlus