These 190 Angus steers 14-16 months averaging 342kg from Coolah, NSW returned $1500/head or 439c/kg and will travel to a buyer near in Gundagai, NSW. A further 105 Angus steers from the same property, averaging 292kg at 14-16 months, made $465.6c.

AFTER a disrupted week due to the Australia Day long weekend, AuctionsPlus cattle sales rebounded this week with listings almost tripling to 17,012 head.

Medium and heavier weight steers continued to rise in price, while lighter descriptions for both steers and heifers marked time, or lost a little ground due to supply.

Compared to the start of last year, the industry is leaping out of the gates – it wasn’t until April of 2023 that AuctionsPlus recorded a weekly catalogue as large as last week.

The trend of big offerings seen last year has continued, and buyer sentiment continues to be strong despite the volume available. Clearance this week was a robust 75 percent.

Processors were active last week, accounting for 19pc of the sold offering, and were in force again this week. Across the 2000-odd head bought by processors this week, the average price paid was 350c/kg liveweight, with an average weight of 410kg.

Among the steer offering, heavier steers saw strong price gains across the platform, although that did impact clearance rates compared to lighter steers. In the smaller categories prices fell back but clearance was near the top.

The offering of steers +400kg rose sixfold to 1477 head this week, averaging 369c/kg – up 25c/kg on last week, for a 72pc clearance. Prices ranged from 320-388c/kg.

Steers 330-400kg doubled to 2284 head and averaged 377c – up 11c on last week, for an 81pc clearance. Prices ranged from 301-439c.

From Coolah, NSW 190 Angus steers 14-16 months averaging 342kg returned $1500/head or 439c/kg and will travel to a buyer near in Gundagai, NSW. A further 105 Angus backgrounder steers from the same property, averaging 292kg at 14-16 months, made $465.6c.

Steers 200-280kg tripled to 982 head and averaged 416c, down 15c on last week, for a 94pc clearance. Prices ranged from 205-508c. From Texas, Queensland, 20 Angus x Santa steers 6-9 months averaging 222kg returned $1070/head or 482c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Millmerran, QLD.

Heifers doubled in terms of offering across the 200-400kg categories with price rises among the lighter categories.

The largest offering came for heifers 330-400kg, listing 2089 head, which saw prices averaging 5c/kg cheaper at 343c. There were 1719 heifers 280-330kg offered, averaging 6c higher at 334c.

The heaviest category for heifers +400kg saw a sixfold increase in listings to 988 head and a 1c softening in c/kg prices, averaging323c/kg. Prices ranged from 238-423c, with an 83pc clearance.

From Walcha, NSW 49 Angus heifers 16-17 months averaging 433kg returned $1520/head or 351c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Gympie, QLD.

Among larger lines offered this week, 338 Santa heifers from Taroom, southern QLD offered in four lots, averaging 386kg at 12 15 months, made $375.5c or $1450 a head. A further 94 backgrounder heifers from the same property averaging 306kg at 8-10 months made 384c or $1175.

Among larger lines offered this week, 338 Santa heifers from Taroom, southern QLD offered in four lots, averaging 386kg at 12 15 months, made $375.5c or $1450 a head. A further 94 backgrounder heifers from the same property averaging 306kg at 8-10 months made 384c or $1175. Click on image for a larger view

Breeding females

After strong recent gains, PTIC and station-mated heifers fell back price-wise this week with clearance also low. PTIC heifers registered a larger offering of 1262 head and averaged $1776, down $224 from last week for a 36pc clearance, while SM heifers dropped $125 from last week for a 19pc clearance of a small offering of 507 head.

Heifers and cows with calves at foot performed strongly, with gains for SM and NSM heifers & calves. NSM heifers & calves registered a 50pc larger offering of 285 units and averaged $1978/unit – up $629 from last week for a 54pc clearance. The offering rose 22pc to 440 head to average $2468/head – up $149 from last week for a 76pc clearance.

From Armidale, NSW 49 Angus x Santa SM heifers & calves 28-30 months averaging 398kg returned $2480/head and will travel to a buyer in Dubbo, NSW.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 2 February