These 105 Angus x Santa steers 434kg at 12-18 months from Hughenden North Queensland made 530c/kg

CATTLE listings lifted sharply this week, rising 29pc to 17,265 head – the largest offering seen since the NSW drought fuelled turnoff period in late April when yardings peaked at +25,000.

Despite the bigger catalogue, clearance held reasonably firm at 76pc, down 7 percentage points on the last week.

Prices on lighter steer and heifers softened in c/kg terms, while heavy feeders – both steers and heifers – also pulled back from recent highs.

Steers were the largest category offered at 8662 head, clearing 78pc.

Heavy feeder steers +400kg lost 9c off recent highs to average 559c, clearing 73pc of the 1291 offered.

Light steers 200–280kg offered a hefty 2686 head, clearing 86pc to average 617c/kg, down 17c on last week, while the 280–330kg category lifted 34c to average 622c clearing 83pc of the 2309 offered.

Steers 330–400kg lost 12c to average 571c/kg, and cleared only 66pc of the 2195 offered.

Forty six Angus steers 10-11 months averaging 277kg from Cobargo, NSW, returned 650c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Maffra, VIC.

Among larger steer lines sold this week, 105 Angus x Santa steers 434kg at 12-18 months from Hughenden North Queensland made 530c/kg, while 240 Brahman/Droughtmaster steers 228kg at 8-16 months made 465c/kg. From the same region, 204 Limousin cross steers 345kg at 17-20 months from Stamford made 530c/kg.

Heifer offerings lifted to 5863 head this week, clearing 84pc. The +400kg heifers recorded the highest clearance of 97pc, from a small offering of 221 head, averaging 516c, down 35c on last week.

The 330–400kg heifers were the strongest weight category on price at 529c/kg, up 5c, clearing 88pc of the offering of 1510. The 200–280kg heifers averaged 545c (+5c) clearing 85pc of the big offering of 2570.

140 Santa heifers 16-19 months averaging 370kg from Barcaldine, western QLD, returned $1940, or 524c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Roma, QLD.

Breeding females

Breeding female offerings totalled 2515 head, producing a disappointing  49pc clearance. SM cows averaged $2460 at 48pc clearance, while PTIC cows cleared 53pc of 899 head offered, at an average of $2161.

NSM heifers and calves were the standout breeding line, averaging $3193/pair at 56pc clearance, while SM cows and calves saw strong demand, with 430 head averaging $2463 at 82pc clearance.

From Ournie, NSW, 16 Angus PTIC cows aged 4 years averaging 605kg returned $2900 and will travel to a buyer in Ournie, NSW.

Queensland was the dominant supply state, lifting 46pc week-on-week to 8536 head, while NSW contributed 5512 head, up 16pc, and Victoria offered 1896 head, up 41pc.

The Angus-specific market attracted 7634 head, up 16pc.

Queensland buyers were active across all weight categories, with interstate competition evident throughout the NSW and Victorian offerings.

Source: AuctionsPlus