Among larger lines offered on Friday, these 155 Angus feeder steers 466kg at 18-22 months from Manilla NSW made 521c/kg or $2430. Note the dry conditions.

The largest online cattle sale catalogue seen since May last year saw 24,346 head offered on AuctionsPlus on Friday.

Last May saw an offering above 26,000 head, ranking among the four or five largest ever seen, and the platform’s largest-ever offerings came in the first two weeks of March 2020, as the COVID pandemic kicked off, when 30,669 head and 28,787 head were offered.

Friday’s sale saw listings more than double the previous week. Almost all categories fell in c/kg terms, however clearance held up reasonably well easing from 76pc to 70pc, on the previous week.

The largest week-on-week movements were seen in the heifer market, where prices came under some pressure. Heifers weighing under 200kg fell 223c to average 417c/kg, marking the biggest correction across the catalogue. Heifers weighing 200–280kg dropped 37c to 438c/kg, while 400kg+ heifers eased 27c and 330–400kg heifers slipped 13c. Despite the price correction, clearance remained relatively firm, particularly in lighter heifers at 94%, indicating strong restocker demand at adjusted price levels.

Steer prices held up better than heifers.

An enormous offering of almost 5000 steers in the 200-280kg range held up reasonably well, easing 7c to averge 567c. clearing 84pc/

Steers 280-330kg produced a yarding of 3314 head, clearing 76pc, with prices unchanged from the previous week at 546c.

Heavier steers 330-400kg offered 2651 head, clearing 60pc, with prices back 20c/kg avertasging 515c, while heeder steers +400kg cleared 92pc of a small offering of 578 head, withy the market back 19c to average 508c. Of those, 390 were categorised as Angus.

Highlights included 102 Angus steers 7-8 months averaging 302kg from Armidale, NSW, returning $1650 or 547c/kg and travelling to a buyer near Moree, NSW.

Among larger lines, 155 Angus feeder steers 466kg at 18-22 months from Manilla NSW made 521c/kg or $2430. 205

All heifer categories struggled to maintain earlier rates.

Heifers 200-280kg yarded almost 2500, clearing 69pc, with prices back 37c/kg averaging 438c. Heifers 280-330kg yarded 1618 head, clearing 68pc, with prices down 28c to average 441c.

Heifer highlights included, 31 Angus non-station mated heifers & calves 28-30 months averaging 461kg from Cullen Bullen, NSW that made $3420/pair, going to a buyer near Albury, NSW. From Armidale, NSW, 38 Angus heifers16-18 months averaging 441kg returned $1980 or 449c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Texas, QLD.

Breeding females

Breeding female results were mixed, with continued variability in buyer confidence.

Station-mated cows & calves averaged $2242/head, while NSM cows & calves fell $156. PTIC cows eased $72, averaging $2120, clearing 59pc of the offring of 1668 head, while an offering of 1433 PTIC heifers struggled to clear 46pc, with prices averaging $2291. The only positive movement was seen in a handful of NSM cows offered, lifting $180 to $1780. Clearance across breeding categories remained subdued, ranging from 59pc to 67pc.

Source: AuctionsPlus