RECORD cattle numbers were offered on AuctionsPlus this week, with listings totalling 14,292 head excluding re-offers left unsold from the week before, and 17,000 including re-offers, across six commercial sales.

The big numbers saw clearance rates drop, with vendor price expectations exceeding buyer willingness to pay. Price trends among young cattle offerings saw most steer prices firm, while heifer results were mixed.

Queensland had the strongest clearance rate of 50pc this week, however more sales were expected to be completed before Monday.

With a prolonged tough season in some areas and an uncertain long-term weather forecast, AuctionsPlus suggested it was important for vendors and agents to have the conversation about putting stock up with realistic reserves. “Don’t start them where they should finish,” was AuctionsPlus’s advice to the market.

NSW offered the largest consignment this week with 11,000 head, an increase of more than 7000 on the week before. Despite being the off week for the fortnightly AuctionsPlus weaner and yearling sales, more than 5000 head of steers were listed this week, 800 up on the week before.

Joined females were in abundance with 4560 head on offer. PTIC cows averaged $1362, reaching a top price of $1820 for a line of seven-year-old Angus cows and calves from Bingara NSW.

In Queensland, a line of 88 Brahman cows PTIC to Charolais bulls out of a high-fertility herd offered by David and Michelle Fryer from Railview, Prairie, east of Hughenden sold for $1075.

Joined heifers averaged $1271 this week and reached $1550, for a line of Angus heifers from Inverell, NSW, PTIC to Angus bulls. A line of Angus cows 5-8 years from Benalla, VIC, PTIC to Lawson Angus bulls made $1160.

Cow and calf numbers were down slightly for an offering of 460 head. Decent listings out of NSW boosted numbers and prices averaged $1758. Top price of $2030 went to a neat line of NSM Angus heifers 24-28 months, with calves, from Boorowa NSW.

In Queensland, two lines of Santa/Droughtmaster NSM cows 3-9 years from Goondiwindi, and calves, sold for $1600.

A large listing of 812 PCAS-eligible Santa yearlings, account Barcaldine Downs Pastoral Co from Alpha, boosted numbers out of Queensland this week. Aged 11-15 months and offered over six lots, all of these yearlings sold at auction, with heifers averaging $675, and the steer portion selling from $945 to $1070.

Cattle numbers in WA were up this week with a total listing of 248 head in regular sales, reaching a top price of $1350 for a line of Angus yearling steers 511kg at 15-16 months from Boyup Brook which sold for $1350.

Weaners 300-400kg averaged $1061, a line of Angus/Hereford mixed sex weaners average 394kg from Manjimup made $1095.

The Landmark Midwest WA Store Cattle Sale offered 854 head and saw weaned Angus steers 308kg and 9-11 months returned 285c/kg. A line of 21 PTIC heifers from Irvin, aged 18-21 months sold for $1800.

Tasmania had 85 head on offer this week, achieving a 100pc clearance. Top price went to a line of Poll Hereford/Angus weaner steers from Ellendale, averaging 337kg, which sold for $1145.

In a breakdown of young cattle sold this week by weight range:

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 308c to 395c to average 250c/kg; while heifers sold from 270-327c to average 294c
• Steers 250-3009kg sold from 304-373c to average 342c; while heifers sold from 235-338c to average 283c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 288-340c to average 318c; while heifers sold from 276-310c to average 289c
• Steers 350kg + sold from 270-320c to average 297c; while heifers sold from 255-283c to average 267c

Steer Highlights

Angus steers 10-11 months 386kg, from Tocumwal, NSW sold for $1210/314c

Brahman steers 13-14 months 195kg, from Hughenden, QLD sold for $765/392c

Angus steers 11-12 months 413kg, from Caramut, VIC sold for $1240/300c

Angus steers 11-13 months, 379kg, from Glencoe, SA sold for $1215/320

Poll Hereford/Angus steers 7-8 months, 297kg, from Ellendale, TAS sold for $1020/344c

Angus steers 15-16 months, 501kg, from Boyup Brook, WA sold for $1350/270c

Heifer Highlights

Speckle Park/Droughtmaster/Hereford heifers 9-12 months 283kg, from Bingara, NSW sold for $955/338c

Brahman heifers 13-14 months 196kg, from Hughenden, QLD sold for $615/314c

Angus heifers 18-19 months 436kg, from Willaura North, VIC sold for $1235/283c

Poll Hereford/Angus heifers 7-8 months 293kg, from Ellendale, TAS sold for $910/311c

Angus heifers 7- 8 months 257kg, from Northcliffe, WA sold for $760/296c.

Source: AuctionsPlus