Liekefett Holdings from Oakey, QLD, offered this line of 93 Santa and Santa cross backgrounder steers 12-14 months averaging 284kg this week, making 573c/kg. They will travel to Roma, QLD.

MOST young cattle values softened a little in AuctionsPlus trading this week, as numbers offered to 16,886 head – the largest offering of the year so far, up 4500 head on the previous week.

With the increase in listings, clearance rate took a hit, down 5pc on last week, to 73pc.

Southern Queensland buyers really took control of the market this week, purchasing 4330 head, more than 3000 head higher than the next closest region.

Cows with calves at foot sold from $1410 to $3700, averaging $2664. Top price was paid for a line of Angus x Speckle Park cows 2-4 years averaging 547kg with CAF aged 1-6 months. Originating from Bathurst NSW, they will make their way to Robin Hill, NSW.

PTIC heifers sold from $1400 and $3110, averaging $2385, with a clearance of 59pc. Top price hailed from Euroa VIC, consisting of Poll Hereford heifers 29-30 months averaging 665kg, which will journey to Yea, VIC. Another highlight was 22-23-month-old Angus heifers 563kg from Heywood VIC, returning $2900 and heading interstate to Keith, SA.

PTIC cows sold from $1280 to $3000 this week, averaging $2058, with a clearance rate of 63pc. Top line from Mansfield VIC consisted of Poll Hereford cows 42 months, 651kg, moving to Yea, VIC. From Mundulla SA, Poll Hereford cows 30-36 months averaging 550kg returned $2780, and will travel interstate to a buyer in Gunbower, VIC.

Young cattle

Steer numbers were up more than 1000 head on last week, with 5474head offered, achieving a clearance of 83pc. Steers averaging less than 200kg ranged from 383-622c/kg, and averaged 538c. From Clifton QLD, Tonkoro Pastoral offered 63 Brahman cross weaned steers, achieving top price at $1230/head. These 10-12-month-olds averaged 198kg and will travel to Nowendoc, NSW.

Steers 200-280kg sold from 455-679c – averaging 614c. Also from Tonkoro Pastoral, a line of 76 Droughtmaster cross steers 10-12 months averaging 208kg topped the category, destined for Nowendoc, NSW.

Steers 280-330kg sold from 304c and 573c this week, averaging 518c. Liekefett Holdings from Oakey, QLD, offered the top line of 93 Santa and Santa cross backgrounder steers 12-14 months averaging 284kg, Dunlop, Gyranda and Rosevale Santa blood, which will travel to Roma, QLD.

Feeder steers 330-400kg sold from 336-525c this week, averaging 467c. Top price went to 42 Angus and Angus cross weaned steers from D Ferguson, Adelong NSW. The Milwillah, Arden and Annaleine Angus blood 7-8-month-old steers averaged 331kg, and are destined for Wombat, NSW.

Heavy steers +400kg ranged from 321-479c, averaging 434c. Top price was a line of Angus steers 14-18 months 433kg from DHW Group, Maclagan, QLD, heading to Toowoomba feedlot.

Heifer numbers remained relatively steady this week, with 3718 head offered, while the clearance was down 5pc at 75pc. Light heifers less than 200kg sold from 410-573c, averaging 494c. Perryfarm Trust attracted top price for its line of 14 heifer calves, 4-5 months averaging 192kg, which are headed to Euroa, VIC.

Heifers 200-280kg ranged from 405-635c – averaging 502c. From Mummulgum, NSW, a line of 17 Santa x Hereford heifers 7-10 months averaging 248kg topped the category, and will head north to Warwick, QLD.

Heifers 280-300kg sold between 371-595c, averaging 490c. Top price went to 29 unweaned Santa x Hereford heifers 7-8-month-old 282kg from Glen Innes, NSW. They are destined for Casino, NSW.

Feeder heifers 330-400kg sold from 332c to 513c, averaging 461c. From Khancoban NSW, top price went to a line of 16-18-month-old Rennylea blood Angus averaging 337kg, travelling to Barraba, NSW.

Heavy heifers +400kg sold from 372c and 519c/kg, averaging 422c. Top price originated from Narrabri NSW and were offered by Doorabeeba Santa Gertrudis. These 15-19-month-old heifers averaged 437kg and will make their way to Inverell, NSW.

The Tasmanian sale this week had steady numbers again, just down from last week’s listing, to total 222 head with an 87pc clearance. With 150 bidders logging into the sale, from both Tasmania and other states, there was very strong bidding activity, with 325 bids over 21 lots. Stand-out lines included 30–34-month-old Angus NSM cows and calves from Yolla, TAS achieving $3050/head and Speckle Park x Angus PTIC heifers from Dunorlan TAS, 17-18 months of age and PTIC back to a Charolais bulls, which will head to Northern Tasmania for the Autumn.

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

Less that 200kg: Steers sold from 383-622c/kg to average 538c, while heifers sold from 410-573c to average 494c.

200-280kg: Steers sold from 455-679c to average 613c, while heifers sold from 405-635c to average 502c.

280-330kg: Steers sold from 304-573c to average 518c, while heifers sold from 371-592c to average 490c/kg.

330-400kg: Steers sold from 324-525c, to average 467c/kg, while heifers sold from 332-512c to average 461c.

+400kg: Steers sold from 320-479c to average 434c/kg, while heifers sold from 372-519c to average 422c.

Source: AuctionsPlus