CATTLE numbers offered reduced by more than half on AuctionsPlus in the lead-up to Easter and Anzac Day trading week, with a total yarding of 7417 head recorded across four weekly sales.

Lack of follow up rain in many areas heading into the cooler months kept a lid on bidding activity as auction participants and clearance rates were both down.

Light steer and heifer categories tended to ease in price.

More than 800 head were offered in the WA Cattle Sale on Tuesday with 63pc clearance recorded at auction, while in Tasmania, the entire offering from Westwood in the north of the state recorded 100pc clearance.

PTIC cows sold from $620 to $1570 last week, averaging $1047. From Cann River, VIC, a line of 36 three-year-old Simmental x Angus cows averaging 648kg, in calf to Charolais bulls, sold for the top price.

Offered by the same vendor, a line of five-year-old PTIC Simmental x Hereford cows, 689kg sold for $1400; while a line of 30 PTIC four-year olds average 646kg sold for $1550. All 3 lines will travel over 500km to Blayney, NSW.

From Nimmitabel, NSW a line of 44 Rennylea blood Angus cows 488kg at seven years of age, and PTIC to Angus bulls, sold for $1000, while a line of 30 Booroomooka blood Angus cows 3-5 years at 443kg, and PTIC to Angus bulls, from Southbrook, QLD returned $900.

Cow and calf units averaged $1128 this week, selling from $800 to $1460. From Arthurs Creek, VIC a line of 25 Angus heifers with first-calves returned the top price. These Lawsons blood heifers were three years, averaging 435kg and are joined to Angus bulls.

Mt Rourke Pastoral Co, Winton, QLD offered a line of 250 Droughtmaster cross cows and calves which returned $1250. The cows ranged from 3-11 years, averaged 461kg and were joined to Droughtmaster bulls. The calves at foot are 1-36 weeks and sired by Droughtmasters.

Also offered by the vendor was a similar line of 100 Droughtmaster cross cows & calves which sold for $1150.

Weaned steers sold from 209c to 302c this week, to average 240c. A line of 79 Angus steers 7-8 months averaging 185kg from Bingara, NSW returned the top price. This line will travel over 400km across the border to Miles, QLD. From Yetman, NSW a line of 26 Angus x composite steers 6-7 months averaging 167kg, sold for 240c.

Yearling steers sold for 284c and 302c, for 2 lines from Ballyrogan, VIC. The top price was achieved by a line of 83 Poll Hereford steers, 12-13 months averaging 380kg, while a lighter line of 63 Poll Hereford steers, 328kg at 12-13 months, sold for 284c.

Other highlights saw a line of 20 Angus weaned heifers 153kg at 6-8 months from Tingha, NSW return 192c.

From Lower Light, SA a line of 92 Poll Hereford cross weaned mixed sexes averaging 166kg at 4-10 months sold for 237c. This line found a buyer from Mount Gambier, SA. From Muttaburra, QLD a line of 115 Charolais/Charbray cross backgrounder heifers returned 220c. These heifers are 10-16 months and averaged 280kg, while from Wandoan, a line of 101 Santa cross yearling heifers 319kg at 15-18 months returned 227c.

Within the TAS Cattle sale, three lots of weaned steers were offered by Whitechapel Trust, Westwood. Prices returned saw a tight range, with steers selling from 291c to 296c. The top price went to a line of 12 Angus steers, 8-10 months averaging 314kg.

In WA, 817 head were offered in this week’s WA Cattle sale. Weaned steers sold from 286c to 296c, averaging 291c. From Northcliffe, Blue River Grazing offered 70 Angus cross steers which sold for the top price. Averaging 350kg, these Lawsons blood steers were 8-9 months.

Weaned heifers averaged 265c, selling from 259c to 277c. The top price was returned by a line of 17 Angus heifers from Manjimup. These heifers are 10-11 months and averaged 317kg. Other highlights saw a line of 12 Murray Grey x Friesian steers from Pemberton averaging 580kg at 26-30 months return 440c/kg dressed. Also from Pemberton, a line of 20 Angus slaughter cows 685kg at 4-10 years of age sold for 430c/kg dressed.

In a national breakdown of young cattle sold this week, by weightrange:

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 210-302c to average 241c; while heifers sold for 192c
• Steers 250-300kg sold for 292c; while heifers sold from 219-220c to average 220c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 260-296c to average 288c; while heifers sold from 227-277c to average 260c
• Steers 350+kg sold from 213-302c to average 254c; while heifers sold from 228-264c to average 246c.

Steer Highlights

7 to 8 month old 185kg, Angus/Angus steers from BINGARA, NSW sold for 303c/560

7 to 9 month old 301kg, Shorthorn/Shorthorn steers from FORBES, NSW sold for 260c/782

7 to 9 month old 237kg, Brahman/Brahman Cross steers from TALWOOD, QLD sold for 211c/500

12 to 13 month old 380kg, Poll Hereford/Poll Hereford steers from BALLYROGAN, VIC sold for 303c/1150

12 to 13 month old 328kg, Poll Hereford/Poll Hereford steers from BALLYROGAN, VIC sold for 285c/935

8 to 10 month old 314kg, Angus/Angus steers from WESTWOOD, TAS sold for 297c/930

9 to 12 month old 284kg, Angus/Angus steers from WESTWOOD, TAS sold for 293c/830

8 to 9 month old 348kg, Angus/Angus steers from NORTHCLIFFE, WA sold for 296c/1030

20 to 28 month old 583kg, Angus/Angus steers from PEMBERTON, WA sold for 233c/1353

26 to 30 month old 579kg, Murray Grey/Friesian steers from PEMBERTON, WA sold for 223c/1289

Heifer Highlights

7 to 9 month old 291kg, Shorthorn/Shorthorn heifers from FORBES, NSW sold for 220/640

6 to 8 month old 153kg, Angus/Angus heifers from TINGHA, NSW sold for 192/295

15 to 18 month old 319kg, Santa Gertrudis/Santa Cross heifers from WANDOAN, QLD sold for 227/725

10 to 16 month old 279kg, Charolais/Charbray heifers from MUTTABURRA, QLD sold for 220/615.56

10 to 11 month old 317kg, Angus/Angus heifers from MANJIMUP, WA sold for 278/880

9 to 10 month old 313kg, Angus/Angus heifers from NORTHCLIFFE, WA sold for 269/840

24 to 30 month old 504kg, Angus/Angus heifers from ALBANY, WA sold for 228/1150

11 to 14 month old 352kg, Angus/Angus heifers from DENMARK, WA sold for 264/930.

Source: AuctionsPlus