This line of 78 weaned Angus x Santa steers averaging 206kg at 8-9 months, off JH Fairfax and Sons’ Kioma station near Toobeah, southern Queensland, sold for 768.7c/kg or $1585/head on Friday.

IT was another large offering of cattle through AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales this week, with the 19,255 head offered, up 16pc on the previous week and 36pc higher than the corresponding sale last year.

There was a spring in the step of most of the young cattle lines this week, with high clearance rates and prices rising for seven of the ten categories. This week’s positive three-month rainfall outlook from BOM will help to maintain the confidence across the market going forward, along with the outstanding results from another week of record bull sales.

Demand for light steers continued to see some excellent prices for suitable lines, with the 2876 head offered in the 200-280kg category selling to a 99pc clearance. Prices eased marginally in c/kg terms, at 646c/kg, but averaged $20 higher in $/head terms at $1579.

Highlights included a line of 78 weaned Angus x Santa steers averaging 206kg at 8-9 months, off JH Fairfax and Sons’ Kioma station near Toobeah, southern Queensland, which sold for 768.7c/kg or $1585/head.

Among larger lines sold this week, 18 decks or 684 head of high-grade Red Brahman steers – sold as 6 deck lots of around 228 head each, off Meda Station in the Kimberley sold for 436c/kg or around $1010 a head.

At the heavier end of the steer offerings, 330-400kg steers lifted 33c/kg on average this week to 568c, while the largest weekly offering of +400kg steers in many weeks failed to impact prices, which jumped 42c on last week, with an 80pc clearance for the 1010 head offered.

Included was a line of 104 Angus x Brahman feeder steers out of Clermont, Central Queensland, averaging 404kg which sold for $1990/head, while further south, 52 Angus feeder steers 423kg out of Mudgee NSW, sold to 589.6c/kg, or $2485/head.

While the heavier end of the young heifer market slipped back on last week’s levels, the 280-330kg category averaged 43c higher than the previous week, at 603c/kg – with a 97pc clearance. 330-400kg heifers finished the week 9c/kg lower at 556c.

Breeding cattle

While there was another solid offering of 1890 PTIC heifers this week, the 68pc clearance highlighted some distance between vendors and buyers. With higher reserves set for many lines, the average for the week finished 27c/kg higher, at 577c/kg, or in $/head terms, $124 higher averaging $2607.

As has been the case throughout 2021, proven breeding lines with CAF have been highly sought-after. This week, a line of 28 PTIC Poll Hereford cows averaging 579kg with CAF out of Bool Lagoon, lower southeast SA sold to $3820/head.

Clearance rates among breeding categories this week ranged from 100pc and 97pc (PTIC cows and calves, represented by just 58 head, and NSM heifers and calves, just 292 head respectively) to just 13pc and 57pc (station mated cows, and PTIC cows, respectively).

Prices as at 2pm Friday 3 September.

Source: AuctionsPlus