From Eidsvold, QLD this run of 58 Santa heifers 19-22 months averaging 310kg returned $1110 or 359c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Walgett, NSW. A second offering of 56 lighter sisters 260kg made 354c/kg

ONLINE listings hit 23,775 head last week – their highest level seen since November last year.

Catalogue volume has lifted sharply over the past two weeks, mirroring trends in saleyards, where last week saw numbers offered in NLRS-reported yards hit 82,587 head – up 44pc on the previous week, and the largest weekly yarding since November 2019.

Clearance dropped on the larger online offering, down to 56pc from the previous week’s 88pc.

AuctionsPlus’s general manager of network Paul Holm suggested the lower clearance rates were indicative of a significantly larger yarding and opportunity sales testing the marketplace.

“I think by the time we get to Monday we will see a 10pc increase in clearance,” Mr Holm said. “That could have been a little bit of reserve setting in hope, rather than what market expectations are.”

The market trended lower this week, pulling back some of last week’s gains, with all steer categories except heavy feeders +steers 400kg falling in value. Among heifer categories, heifers 280-330kg was the only category to rise.

Listing numbers were driven by NSW vendors, representing 55pc of the total numbers at 13,070 head, while Queensland and South Australia had the largest percentage increases on last week with 121pc rise to 4828 head and 77pc rise to 2230 head, respectively.

Lighter steers 200-280kg attracted 2176 head, falling 28c/kg to average 358c.

Largest offerings in the steer category this week were for steers 330-400kg which saw 2929 head, averaging 314c/kg, identical to the previous week.

Twelve Angus steers averaging 373kg from Castra, TAS, sold for $1410.

Steers 400kg and heavier was the only category to register a lift in price, up 3c/kg to average 300c. Prices ranged from 242c-338c. Clearance for the category was the lowest for all steers at 53pc.

From Moree, NSW 75 Angus steers 14-15 months averaging 448kg returned $1513/head or 338c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Queensland.

Among the heifer offering, the largest catalogue was in the 330-400kg weight range, with 2524 head offered. The larger offering impacted prices and clearance with the category falling $89 or 20c/kg to average $937/head or 263c, and returned a 47pc clearance.

From Inglewood, QLD 12 Poll Hereford heifers 13-15 months averaging 384kg returned 390c/kg or $1500.

The 280-330kg category showed the only significant heifer rise this week, lifting 13c to average 285c/kg. Clearance was the best for all the heifer categories at 53pc.

From Eidsvold, QLD 58 Santa heifers 19-22 months averaging 310kg returned $1110 or 359c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Walgett, NSW. A second run of 56 lighter sisters 260kg made 354c/kg.

Breeding females

PTIC heifers registered a larger offering of 932 head and averaged $1645/head – up $38 from the previous week for a 65pc clearance.

The number of lots offered increased from 17 to 44, a 73pc increase. From Laceby, VIC a line of Angus PTIC heifers 21-22 months averaging 626kg and in calf to Angus bulls returned $2280, and will travel to a buyer in NSW.

SM cows & calves registered a larger offering of 897 head, increasing by 159pc on last week and averaged $1813/head – down $184 from last week for a 60pc clearance. From Glencoe, SA 11 Angus cows aged five years and averaging 605kg returned $2460. The 11 Limousin-sired calves at foot averaging 369kg, while the cows are in calf to Angus and Limousin bulls.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 8 December.

Source: AuctionsPlus