CATTLE numbers reduced this week with 14,414 head offered, a 26pc reduction on the previous week. The tightened supply had a positive impact on prices as most stock categories experienced dearer market trends.

Continued restocking demand saw significant price increases for breeder categories. Cows with calves at foot increased by an average of $330, while PTIC heifers and cows were up by $340 and $211 respectively.

Heifers had strong price gains across all weight categories, while steers remained firm to dearer on last week. This week Southern Queensland was both the largest listing and purchasing region with 3075 head from the region offered and 1683 head purchased.

PTIC cows jumped $211 to average $2064, selling between $1520 and $2680. Top price was achieved by a line of 16 PTIC Te Mania blood Angus cows offered by DA & S Chisholm from Adelong, NSW. The EU accredited cows averaging 700kg, were rising six years and PTIC to Te Mania bulls. From Guyra, NSW 19 PTIC Angus cows, 493kg, three to four years, sold for $2510 and will travel to Scone in the Hunter region of NSW.

PTIC heifers achieved an even bigger increase of $340 this week to average $1962, selling between $1370 and $2530. From Holbrook, NSW a line of 12 PTIC Angus heifers offered by Koombahola Trust attained the highest price. The Ardrossan and Dunoon blood heifers averaging 559kg were 21-22 months old and will travel to nearby Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Another notable highlight was a large line of PTIC heifers from Ballan, VIC split into several lots which sold between $2270 and $2490. Top priced lot of the offering was 36 EU accredited PTIC Angus heifers, averaging 556kg at 23 months.

Cows with calves at foot continued the dearer market trend for the breeding stock categories. They sold between $2360 and $3030 to average $2653, up $330 from last week. Top price was achieved by a small line of NSM Angus x Hereford heifers with calves, offered by Midvale from Walla Walla, NSW. The heifers were 30-32 months averaging 438kg and had 2-8 week old CAF.

From Forbes, NSW a line of PTIC Angus cows & calves sold for $2810. The cows were PTIC to Moongenilla Angus bulls, averaged 456kg at five years of age.

Young cattle

There were 5524 steers offered this week which sold to strong demand, achieving an 87pc clearance. Steers averaging less than 200kg sold between 427c and 654c to average 524c, down 41c. Top price was offered by Woodstock P’Ship from Tooma, NSW with a line of 89 Poll Hereford steers. The Wiruna blood steers averaging 170kg, were 9-10 months old and will travel to Mudgee, NSW.

Steers 200-280kg averaged 477c, with prices ranging from 383c to 591c, 10c dearer than last week. A line of 31 Angus vealer steers offered by Banalasta Farming, Bendemeer, NSW achieved the highest price. The Nairn Park blood calves averaged 205kg at 6-8 months, and will remain in the region, travelling to nearby Tamworth, NSW.

Among larger lines, 240 Droughtmaster steers 232kg at 12-15 months from Fossil Downs, Fitzroy Crossing in northern WA made 448c/kg, while a further 204 heavier brothers 293kg made 420c.

Prices for steers 280-330kg were up 29c this week with an average of 437c, selling between 385c and 509c. Top price hailed from Khancoban in the Riverina region of NSW for a line of 15 Angus steers offered by CH & GK Barlee. The Llandarlo blood steers were 8-10 months averaging 281kg, and will travel across the border to Cudgewa in North East VIC.

Feeder steers from 330-400kg sold between 300c and 457c to average 408c, back 2c. From Meandarra in the Sunshine State, a line of 96 Angus backgrounder steers sold for the highest price. Ames Pastoral Co offered 15-20 month old steers that averaged 337kg and will travel to Elbow Valley, QLD.

The limited number of heavy steers + 400kg on offer resulted in an increase of 28c on last week to average 404c, selling between 382c and 410c. Top price was achieved by a line of 52 Santa and Santa cross steers offered by Secret Plains Stock Management Tags from Dirranbandi, QLD. The EU accredited steers averaging 425kg, were 14-20 months and are heading south to Burra in SA.

Heifers also experienced dearer price trends for the 4707 head offered online. Light heifers averaging less than 200kg sold between 463c and 593c this week to average 565c, up 32c from last week.

From Uralla, NSW a line of 150 Hereford and Hereford X heifers offered by Poverty Pastoral achieved top price for the category. The heifers averaging 186kg were 5-11 months old and will travel to Mudgee, NSW.

Heifers 200-280kg increased 32c to average 441c, with prices ranging from 339c to 582c. Top price went to P, JB & MP Neiberding from Coonabarabran, NSW for a line of 50 Angus heifers. The EU accredited heifers, 232kg at 8-10 months, will head to Aberdeen in the Hunter region of NSW.

Heifers averaging 280-330kg sold between 367c and 486c to average 420c, 11c dearer than last week. The highest price of the category was attained by a line of 31 Angus heifers offered by Mt Bred Angus from Oberon, NSW. The Rennylea blood heifers averaging 286kg were 9-10 months.

Feeder heifers 330-400kg increased 4c to average 391c, with prices ranging from 374c and 418c. Top price hailed from Shepparton, VIC for a line of Charolais x heifers offered by ID & ER Holdsworth.  The vendor-bred heifers averaging 358kg were 14-15 months and will travel to Moama, NSW.

Heavy heifers more than 400kg sold from 365c to 397c to average 381c, up 14c. Top priced lot was a line of 24 NSM Angus heifers offered by A & D Sofra from Mundoona, VIC. The future breeders averaging 409kg were 14-15 months and were of Lawson & Paringa bloodlines.

The Tasmanian Cattle sale this week saw numbers remain firm with a yarding of 410 head and 100pc clearance. Of the 15 lots offered, six will be heading across the Bass Strait into Victoria. Weaned and unweaned steers sold between $930 and $1340 to average $1127, holding firm on last week.

AO McKinnon achieved top price with a line of 9-11 month old Angus weaned steers averaging 325kg which are heading to Victoria. Weaned and unweaned heifers sold from $850 to $1070 to average $107 easier than last week at $981. Top line hailed from Elliott, TAS with 7-9 month old Angus unweaned heifers averaging 280kg.

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

Less than 200kg: Steers sold from 427-654c/kg to average 524c; heifers sold from 463-593c to average 565c

200-280kg: Steers sold from 383-591c to average 477c; heifers sold from 339-582c to average 441c

280-330kg: Steers sold from 385-509c to average 437c; heifers sold from 367-486c to average 420c

330-400kg: Steers sold from 300-457c to average 408c; heifers sold from 374-418c to average 391c

400+ kg: Steers sold from 382-410c to average 404c; heifers sold from 365-397c to average 381c

 

Source: AuctionsPlus