These 58 Angus steers 12-13 months averaging 308kg from Baradine, NSW returned 400c/kg or $1230/head on Friday

Commercial stock offerings levels continued their strong start to the year on AuctionsPlus with this week’s listings surging another six percent to 20,585 head.

With the exception of the second last sale in December, no single week in 2023 topped the 20,000-head mark. This week’s large offering did not receive widespread support, delivering a clearance of 56 percent (down 21pc on the previous week), with most young cattle categories sharply down in value.

This week all the positive action in terms of listings came from New South Wales and South Australia but they weren’t net buyers, while Queensland saw a significant drop in terms of both purchases and listings, likely due to the recent weather.

Across the platform, only mid-weight (280-330kg) steers and heifers held up in terms of c/kg price. Heifers in the 280-330kg range rose 25c/kg while steers lifted 11c/kg.

Breeding stock continues to be challenged, with the exception of PTIC cows which lifted $38/head on average, in the face of a 38pc rise in numbers offered.

A solid line of NSM cows and calves helped that category jump 59pc in average price from a low base.

Processors were as active as last week, and continue to be a presence in the online market, buying almost twice the level of stock as this time last year.

Steers 200-280kg dropped 36c/kg on average this week, to average 423c/kg, while a smaller offering of steers less than 280kg fell 30c to 455c.

Steers 280-330kg registered a larger offering of 1982 head and averaged 398c/kg, up 11c from last week for a 68pc clearance. Prices ranged from 310-427c.

From Baradine, NSW 58 Angus steers 12-13 months averaging 308kg returned 400c/kg or $1230/head, and will travel to a buyer near Goondiwindi, QLD.

Steers 330-400kg registered a smaller offering of 2224 head and averaged 370c/kg, down 4c from last week for a 51pc clearance. Prices ranged from 311-397c.

From Mitchell, QLD 59 Santa composite steers 15-17 months averaging 375kg returned 376c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Cunnamulla, QLD. A further 128 younger brothers 329kg at 9-14 months made 408.6c.

These 59 Santa composite steers 15-17 months averaging 375kg from Mitchell, QLD returned 376c/kg on Friday and will travel to a buyer near Cunnamulla, QLD. A further 128 younger brothers 329kg at 9-14 months made 408.6c.

It was not a good week for heifers in the 200-280kg range where clearance reached just 20pc. The category registered a 20pc larger offering totalling 2380 head and averaged 321c/kg, down 5c from last week. Prices ranged from 226-1240c.

A line of 102 Wagyu x Angus heifers 11 months averaging 244kg from Walcha, NSW returned $1000/head or 409c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Bundarra, NSW.

Clearances in other heifer categories ranged between 63pc and 84pc, with prices back 10pc, by-and-large.

Heifers 280-330kg registered a 17pc larger offering of 1408 head and averaged 333c/kg – up 25c from last week for a 68pc clearance. Prices ranged from 204-1095c. From Mole river, NSW 28 Brangus/Ultrablack heifers 12-14 months averaging 292kg returned $1130 or 388c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Oakey, QLD.

Breeding females

The pullback in breeding stock prices continued for another week, with clearances generally mixed and lower prices for most categories.

PTIC heifers registered a 24pc smaller offering of 1480 head and averaged $1839 – down $96 from last week for a 34pc clearance. By contrast, PTIC cows near tripled in terms of offering to 1237 head and averaged $1755 – up $38 from last week for a 57pc clearance.

Sixty one Angus PTIC cows 2-3 years averaging 510kg from Holbrook, NSW returned $2300/head and will travel to a buyer near Bathurst, NSW.

SM cows & calves registered a smaller offering of 1165 head and averaged $2194/pair – down $50 from last week for a 43pc clearance.

From Wee Waa, NSW 28 Shorthorn x Hereford cows 3-7 years averaging 474kg returned $1770 and will travel to a buyer near Bourke, NSW.

Prices as at 2pm Friday 16 February

Source: AuctionsPlus