Among larger lines sold this week, these 114 Droughtmaster future breeders 11-13 months averaging 250kg out of Theodore, QLD, made 744.3c/kg to return $1860.

There was a reduced supply of cattle through AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales this week, with overall numbers contracting 20 percent on last week’s unexpectedly large offerings, to 17,113 head.

The reduced supply failed to halt price declines through the more populated categories, with heavier feeder steers and PTIC heifers registering the largest falls.

With holiday disruptions now over and two uninterrupted weeks of cattle sales now on the record in 2022, the overall sentiment within the market remains extremely high. While the current market has the most recent positive rainfall outlook fully priced in, the sideways movement of the EYCI throughout the past week should provide confidence for producers heading towards the key autumn period.

As the table below shows, it was a “see-saw” result through the young steer lines this week, with the lighter lines lifting considerable on quality, while the heavier lines dropped back. A reduced number of lighter steers, less than 200kg, jumped considerably this week, as competition for a very thin offering remained fierce, averaging $1361.

Steers 280-330kg remained largely steady, edging 13c higher on last week to average $2051, with a healthy 94pc clearance for the 1286 head offered.

The two heaviest steer categories both declined considerably this week, with 330-400kg lines back 22c/kg on last week, to 603c/kg. The 78pc clearance for the 1769 head offered signalled some buyer hesitancy, especially when compared to the +90pc clearance rate of the three lighter categories.

A line consisting of 114 Angus feeder steers averaging 396kg at 16-17 months from Heywood, Victoria returned 644c/kg, or $2550/head.

Heavy +400kg feeder steer prices slipped 10c this week to average 535c/kg, or $2357/head, with an 81pc clearance rate for the 1396 head offered.

A line of 46 10-11-month-old Angus steers 425kg from Penola, South Australia returned 636c or $2675/head.

With lower clearance rates than in previous weeks, all five young heifer categories declined in price this week, with the largest offering of 330-400kg heifers back 9c averaging 599c. Heifers 280-330kg averaged 20c/kg lower at 636c, with an 81pc clearance for the 1482 head offered, while light heifers 200-280kg fell 63c and a handful of heifers less than 200kg back 93c/kg.

From Kingston South Australia, a line of 97 11-12-month-old Angus weaner heifers averaging 317kg returned 690c/kg, or $2190/head.

Among larger lines sold this week, 114 Droughtmaster future breeders 11-13 months averaging 250kg out of Theodore, QLD, made 744.3c/kg to return $1860.

Breeding cattle

PTIC heifers took a step back this week, averaging 82c ($152) lower on last week, at $3053/head, even though there was a comparatively high clearance for the category of 74pc for the 1977 head offered.

Out of Gracemere, Central Queensland, 26 Angus x Brahman PTIC heifers 18-24 months averaging 398kg sold to $2760/head. The heifers had been joined to Black Brangus and Angus bulls.

While there was a jump in the number of PTIC cows offered this week, buyers were cautious, with only 48pc of the 1782 head finding a sale. Quality was the driving factor behind PTIC cows averaging $192/head higher for the week, at $3029.

SM cows with CAF averaged $121 higher this week, at $3664/head.

A line of 20 SM Brangus cows 8–11 years averaging 506kg with 20 CAF out of Tansey, Southern Queensland, sold to $3530/pair.

Source: AuctionsPlus