These Ultrablack/Angus heifers 12-13 months, 374kg from Gunnedah made 313c or $1170 on Friday.

PERSISTENT dry weather has seen considerable momentum lost in numbers offered recently on the AuctionsPlus online trading platform.

This week’s catalogue was back more than 2300 head or 30 percent on the previous week, to 5453 head. That’s the smallest offering since the Easter-affected week of 15 April, and a fraction of the year-high offering of +13,000 seen back in late June.

Despite the big decline in numbers, clearance rates increased to 58 percent, up 12pc from last week.

Cows and calves presented well this week with the top price of $2250 paid for three-year-old Angus cows, with calves at foot but not re-joined, hailing from Mungindi on the Qld/NSW border. A line of their five-year old sisters, all with calves, made $1920; and nine year old matron sisters, $1670.

Another stand-out was a line of 4-6 year old Shorthorn cows, with calves and foot and joined back to Shorthorn bulls from Swan Hill, VIC, which made $2000.

Top price for cows and calves this week of $2250 was paid for these three-year-old Angus cows, with calves at foot but not re-joined, from Mungindi on the Qld/NSW border.

PTIC female numbers were dominated by Queensland listings from drier areas with scattered NSW listings in the mix. The top price for PTICs of $1620 was a line of rising two year old Angus heifers in-calf to Angus bulls, from Geurie, NSW, making the 1000km trek to Penola, SA to enjoy the warmer months ahead.

A line of 3-4 year old Angus heifers PTIC to Angus bulls from Maclagan, QLD made $1380.

F1 Wagyu steers from Taroom, QLD made top dollar this week. The 10-16 month old boys averaging 251kg made 543c/kg or $1360. A line of Angus

F1 Wagyu steers from Taroom, QLD made top dollar this week. The 10-16 month old boys averaging 251kg made 543c/kg or $1360.

backgrounder steers 10-14 months weighing 221kg from the same vendor also sold well, making 377c or $850.

Walgett, NSW was home to another top line of steers this week. Aged 10-14 months, these Te- Mania blood Angus steers averaged 304kg, returning 342c or $1040.

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

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 325c to 385c/kg to average 361c; while heifers sold from 335-359c to average 347c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 303-352c to average 325c; while heifers sold from 236-315c to average 287c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 321-344c to average 333c; while heifers sold from 272-346c to average 293c
• Steers 350-400kg sold from 279-318c to average 305c; while heifers sold from 277-313c to average 290c
• Steers 400kg + made 291c.

QLD steer and heifer highlights:

• Angus steers 10-14m, 221kg from Taroom – 377c or $835
• Angus steers 10-14m, 292kg, from Goondiwindi – 352c or $1030
• Braford steers 6-12m, 215kg from Julia Creek – 325c or $698
• Angus steers 11-13m, 365kg from Goondiwindi – 318c or $1160
• Angus heifers 10-12m, 287kg from Inglewood – 280c or $805
• Droughtmaster heifers 8-16m, 283kg from Winton QLD – 236c or $670

NSW Steer and heifer highlights:

• Angus steers 9-10m, 247kg, from Armidale– 385c or $950
• Angus steers 9-10m, 204kg from Armidale – 380c or $775
• Angus steers 10-13m, 216kg from Hernani – 371c or $800
• Hereford x Angus steers 10-13m, 212kg from Hernani – 349c or $740
• Angus heifers 11-12m, 318kg from Walcha – 346c or $1100
• Poll Hereford heifers 10-11m from Yass – 335c or $710
• Angus heifers 10-12m, 292kg, from Dunedoo – 315c or $920
• Ultrablack/Angus heifers 12-13m, 374kg from Gunnedah – 313c or $1170

VIC highlights:

• Hereford heifers 11-12m, 189kg from Swift’s Creek – 359c or $680
• Shorthorn heifers 12-15m, 372kg from Swan Hill – 298c or $1110.

Source: AuctionsPlus