Part of a line of 85 8-10-month-old Angus weaner steers 362kg from Fucheng Australia’ operations at Sutton Grange, Victoria, which returned 489c/kg or  $1770 on Friday. A further 115 of their lighter half-sib brothers 316kg made 528c/kg, and 80 weaned heifer sisters 295kg made 515c/kg or $1520. 

WITH the return to a full trading week this week, online commercial cattle offerings via Elders and Nutrien’s joint venture, AuctionsPlus, reached 11,518 head, with the heavier end of the steer market registering steady numbers.

While plenty of attention continues to be fixed on weaner sales in the south, online activity was robust this week, reflecting the end-of-auction clearance rates registered through the early weeks of December.

While January markets can experience increased volatility with short trading weeks and disrupted markets, the cheaper online trend this week matched the results through the weaner sales, with buyer caution apparent.

Virtually all categories were well back in value compared with last week’s first yearly sale, with most suffering large double-digit and even triple digit declines in c/kg value.

With finishing conditions improving as summer conditions take hold through previously saturated southern regions, the supply of cattle through to the start of March will be closely watched, especially if the wet season really takes hold through Queensland.

Comparatively, a large offering of 400kg+ steers was offered this week, with the 1749 head selling to a 47pc clearance and averaging 438c/kg, down another 20c/kg or $94 average on last week’s very thin market. From Sidonia, Victoria a line of 33 Angus feeder steers 15-16 months averaging 462kg returned $2070/head.

A steady supply of 330-400kg steers was offered, with 1405 head selling to a 53pc clearance at the close of the auction. Prices were down 67c/kg or an average $260 on last week’s smaller sale, and back 9pc from the corresponding sale in December last year. A line of 85 8-10-month-old Angus weaner steers 362kg from Fucheng Australia’ operations at Sutton Grange, Victoria, returned 489c/kg or  $1770, and will travel to Holbrook, NSW. A further 115 of their lighter half sib brothers 316kg made 528c/kg, while 80 weaned heifer sisters 295kg made 515c/kg or $1520.

There was a reduced offering through the lighter steer lines, with 280-330kg steers slipping back 26c/kg or $46 on last week, to average 501c/kg or $1539/head – albeit with a weekly high clearance rate for the steer categories of 72pc.

A large run of 115 Angus steers 8-10 months averaging 317kg returned $1670/head and will travel to a buyer in Orange, NSW.

Only 500 head of 200-280kg steers were offered this week, averaging 29c/kg lower than last week at 545c, at a 52pc clearance. From Deepwater, NSW, 45 Angus steers 8-10 months averaging 250kg returned $1520/head and will travel to Borenore, NSW.

Numbers continued to be well back for the young heifer lines, only making up 22pc of the entire market. Heifers 280-330kg averaged 469c/kg, with the 1072 head offering selling to a subdued clearance rate of 33pc.

Given the action through the weaner sales, post-sale negotiations are expected to lift final sales in the coming days. From Mitchell, Queensland, 113 Santa heifers 11-14 months averaging 328kg returned $1360.

Clearance rates lifted from last week for 200-280kg heifer lines, to 61pc, albeit for a limited offering of 722 head – averaging 476c. A line of Angus heifers 9-14 months averaging 267kg from Tenterfield, NSW, returned $1390, headed to a buyer in Warialda, NSW.

A large line of 100 Angus yearling heifers 15-16 months averaging 396kg from Kingston, SA returned $1800, travelling interstate to a buyer in Camperdown, Victoria. From Meadow Creek, Victoria Hereford heifers 20-22 months averaging 479kg returned $1800.

Breeding cattle

It was mixed messages through the breeding lines being offered online this week, with the PTIC heifer category making up the largest category at 1987 head. Given the 53pc clearance for the PTIC heifer offering, prices ranged from $1810 to $4000/head, averaging $2734, up 30c/kg or $47.

From Mulwala, NSW, 24-month-old Hereford heifers PTIC to Angus bulls returned $4000. The heifers averaged 561kg and will travel to a buyer in Orange, NSW. Another highlight included 17-23-month-old Angus heifers from Chinchilla, Queensland, averaging 500kg which returned $3000. PTIC to Wagyu bulls, the heifers will travel to a buyer near Condamine, Queensland.

It was thin numbers through the remaining breeding categories, with averages not reflective of the market. From Oberon, NSW, 16 Angus NSM heifers 24-36 months with CAF aged 3-6 weeks returned $4020. The heifers averaged 601kg, set to travel to Condobolin, NSW.

A line of 2-3-year-old Angus heifers 589kg from Coleraine, Victoria, returned $2200/head and will travel interstate to a buyer in Robe, SA.

From Moree, NSW, 28 Angus x Hereford cows 554kg with CAF returned $3550/head. The cows aged 3-4-years were joined to Booroomooka blood Angus Bulls and will travel to a buyer in Dubbo, NSW.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 13 January.

Source: AuctionsPlus