Markets

Heifers show stronger trend in second AuctionsPlus offering for the year

Beef Central 19/01/2025

These 120 Charolais x Droughtmaster heifers in store condition 354kg at 12-16 months from Westmar in southern Queensland made 367c or $1300 a head on Friday.

 

LIGHT and mediumweight heifer prices lifted, while steer values were mixed in as yarding of 13,490 head on AuctionsPlus on Friday, where volume increased by 63 percent on the previous Friday’s first sale for the year.

Lighter categories saw small declines in value, while heavier steers +400kg strengthened, gaining 7c/kg on the previous week. Lighter heifers performed well, with the 200-280kg entries rising by 28c/kg on average, while the 280-330kg category gained 5c to average 359c.

The AuctionsPlus Young Cattle Indicator softened by 11c to average 745c/kg DW.

Breeding stock results were varied, with SM cows and calves ending the week with a clearance of 75pc for an average of $2061. NSM heifers and calves ended the week with full clearance for an average of $2020.

With weaner sales across the southern regions as well as in the west happening this week, the AuctionsPlus Weaner and Yearling sale accounted for 68pc of the total listings on Friday, with 9195 head listed, up 46pc from the week prior.

Buyers showed strong interest in heavier steers and breeding heifers, while weaker clearance rates point to selective purchasing strategies. It is pivotal for agents and vendors to engage in discussions about realistic reserve pricing to ensure optimal sale outcomes, vendors were advised.

Interstate purchasing ended the week at 22pc, while processors represented 21pc of total purchasing activity.

A line of 77 Angus steers 18-19 months averaging 470kg from Piallaway, NSW, returned 413c/kg lwt or $1940/head, and will travel to a buyer near Oakey, QLD.

From Barwidgee, Victoria, 29 Angus heifers 30 months averaging 593kg returned $2400/head, or 405c/kg, and will travel to a buyer near Myrtleford, Victoria.

From Taroom, Queensland, 49 Hereford/Angus cross steers 10-16 months averaging 322kg returned 450c/kg or $1450, and will travel to a buyer near Banana, Queensland.

Among larger lines sold this week, 228 Brahman steers 252kg at 12-18 months in light condition from Winton in western Queensland made 349c/kg or $880 a head.

A little further south, 181 Santa backgrounder heifers 267kg at 13-18 months from Ilfracombe, central western Queensland made 367c or $980, while 120 Charolais x Droughtmaster heifers in store condition 354kg at 12-16 months from Westmar in southern Queensland made 367c or $1300 a head.

Best of the Angus feeders +400kg sold this week was a run of 75 steers 472kg at 15-16 months from Walcha, northern NSW (see image above) that made 419c/kg or $1974 a head. A second pen of 75 from the same vendor, similar weight and age, were passed in at auction for 421c/kg or $2007.

Source: AuctionsPlus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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