WHILE young cattle have been the centre of attention in recent record-setting across the eastern Australian livestock markets, a new national record for cows and calves was set online on Friday.

A small line of Speckle Park three-year-old cows, unjoined, but with young Speckle Park calves at foot offered by DA & RD Scott from Meeniyan, VIC made $5580. They were part of an offering of 45 three-year-old cows and calves from the same vendor which made from $3780 to $5580.

The previous AuctionsPlus record for cows and calves was $3900 for unregistered cows from a prominent Angus stud, with calves by a trait leader for the breed.

Part of an offering of 45 three-year-old cows and calves from DA & RD Scott from Meeniyan, VIC, this small line of Speckle Park three-year-old cows, unjoined, but with young Speckle Park calves at foot made a cow & calf national record $5580 on AuctionsPlus on Friday

This week trading on AuctionsPlus saw numbers offered ease to 16,707 head, down 8pc on last week. Most steer and heifer categories again trended higher.

Cows and calves ranged from $1160 to the new record high, to average $3137.

Another outstanding cow and calf sale was for a line of five-year-old Angus cows and calves (cows were station mated back to Angus bulls) from Head Pastoral Co, Coonamble, NSW sold for $3840. Buyer came from the Dubbo, NSW area.

PTIC cows sold between $970 and $2900 this week to average $2143. Attracting the top price was a quality line of 3.5-year-old Angus cows PTIC back to Angus bulls, from Yirri North Pastoral, Glen Innes, NSW. The cows will travel to their new home at nearby North Star, NSW.

PTIC heifers sold from $1650 to $3050 this week to average $2291. Top price went to Charolais heifers 25-26 months old and PTIC back to Charolais bulls offered by Chenu Holdings, Baringhup West, VIC. The heifers are heading further north in Victoria to Dookie.

A highlight from the week was a large consignment of 1477 breeders offered by Rallen Australia, Kalala Station, Daly Waters NT. The offering comprised PTIC and station-mated cows as well as cows with CAF which were met with strong competition from a wide audience. Bidders were active from WA, NT, QLD and NSW, with five successful purchasers and cattle heading to central and northern NSW, southern QLD, and some staying ‘local’ in the NT.

The mixed age breeders sold to $1270 for 290 PTIC Brahman cows, and $1160 for 230 Brahman cows with 160 calves at foot.

Part of a large consignment of 1477 breeders offered by Rallen Australia, Kalala Station, Daly Waters NT, this pen of 290 Brahman PTIC cows sold for $1270 on Friday

Young cattle

Heifers averaging less than 200kg ranged from 394c to 732c this week to average 600c. Top price went to a line of 7-8-month-old Angus x Hereford weaners averaging 175 kg from DF & M CLEVES, Mt Gambier, SA making $1280 or 732c/kg.

Heifers 200-280kg ranged from 348c to 660c this week to average 514c. Top price hailed from the same Mt Gambier, SA vendor, with a line of 7-8-month-old Angus x Hereford heifers averaging 217kg which made $1430 or 660c.

Heifers 280-330kg ranged from 360c to 575c this week to average 474c. Top price went to a line of 13-14-month-old Angus heifers averaging 303kg from Knewleave Partnership, Drysdale, VIC which made $1740 or 575c.

Heifers 330-400kg ranged from 385c to 518c this week to average 451c. The top price hailed from Marulan, NSW from vendor C J and H Brewer for a line of 9-13-month-old Limousin heifers, averaging 377kg, making $1955 or 518c.

Heifers heavier than 400kg ranged from 381c to 463c to average 417c/kg. Top price went to a line of 16-19-month-old Angus heifers averaging 421kg from DC & P McDonald from Tarcutta, NSW, making $1950 or 463c.

Steers averaging less than 200kg ranged from 552c to 769c this week to average 648c. Mirroring the heifer result in the same category the vendors were DF & M Cleves from Mt Gambier, SA, for a line of 7-8-month-old Angus x Hereford weaned steers, 185kg, which made $1420 or 769c.

Steers 200-280kg ranged from 346c to 652c this week to average 539c. Top price also went to DF & M Cleves from Mt Gambier for a line of 7-8 month old Angus x Hereford weaned steers 229kg, making $1490 or 652c.

Steers 280-330kg ranged from 396c to 609c this week to average 489c. Top price hailed from Corowa, NSW from vendor Schoen Pastoral for a line of 6-7-month-old weaned Angus steers averaging 282kg, making $1720 or 609c.

Steers 330-400kg ranged from 380c to 495c this week to average 447c. Top price went to Tainton Partnership from Killingworth, VIC for a line of 8-9 month old unweaned steers averaging 372kg, making 495c.

Steers heavier than 400kg ranged from 315c to 448c this week to average 412c. Top price was for a line of 12-13 month old Angus feeder steers from K & S CASBEN, Merriwa, NSW. The steers averaged 402kg, making $1800 or 448c.

Across the water to Tasmania this week saw 508 head offered and a 100pc clearance, with two passed-in lots sold promptly post-sale.

Cows with calves at foot sold for $2630 and $3450 with the top price offered by Everton House at Evandale with a line of 16 NSM Angus heifers and calves. These 25-26-month-old Onslow blood heifers averaged 606kg and had 10-16-week-old CAF averaging 126kg, sired by Angus bulls. There were 174 yearling steers offered in Tassie this week selling between $500 and $1670, averaging $1333. Top price was secured by Troy Wright Holdings, West Pine with eight Angus x Murray Grey feeder steers averaging 381kg.

Source: AuctionsPlus