Among larger heifer lines offered on Friday, these 498 Santa heifers 12-20 months in light store condition from Julia Creek, Northwest Queensland, sold in five lots from 247kg to 282kg making from 424c/kg at the lighter end to 436c/kg at the heavier end.

DOUBLE-DIGIT gains in c/kg value were seen across the board in online young cattle trading on Friday, where smaller offerings and the impact of rain in some southern areas took effect.

Cattle listings eased another 3pc to 10,351 head. The past fortnight has seen offerings decline sharply, from 17,000 and 18,600 head seen during the final two weeks of September.

Clearance on Friday remained steady at 82pc. Steers saw 4324 head offered, clearing 88pc, while heifer offerings made up 3348 head, clearing 85pc. Breeding females cleared 69pc of the 2397 head catalogued.

Breeding cattle results were mixed, with some substantial gains evident, along with some large losses on the previous week.

In the steer categories, lighter steers 200-280kg produced an 89pc clearance across an offering of 867 head, with prices up 30c/kg to average 599c/kg.

Medium steers 280-330kg were the largest single category with 1588 head listed, producing a 92pc clearance, while prices lifted 20c to average 599c.

Steers 330-400kg cleared 86pc of the 1106 head offered, averaging 628c/kg (up 90c – quality related). Feeder steers +400kg cleared 68pc, averaging 542c, up 22c on last week.

Among larger steer lines offered on Friday, 207 Angus weaner steers 7-10 months from Glenmorgan, southern Qld sold from 773c/kg at the heavier end averaging 189kg to 762c at the lighter end averaging 189kg. A further 126 of their heifer sisters 152kg made 725c/kg.

Across the border, 70 weaned Angus steers 303kg at 8-11 months from Lightning Ridge NSW made 595c/kg, while 94 Speckle Park paddock-mates 297kg at 8-11 months made 523c/kg.

Out of Gunnedah, 354 Angus backgrounder steers 11-13 months sold from 660c/kg for heavier types averaging 339kg, to 670c for the lighter end 309kg.

Heifers

Heifers 200-280kg produced an offering of 1002 head, clearing 92pc and averaging 501c/kg, up 26c on last week. The 280-330kg heifers cleared 97pc of the 698 offered, averaging 503c, up 37c.

Heifers 330-400kg saw 1115 offered, clearing 71pc and averaged 510c/kg, up 37c, while heavy heifers +400kg cleared 80pc, averaging 492c, up 12c..

Among larger heifer lines offered on Friday, 498 Santa heifers 12-20 months in light store condition from Julia Creek, Northwest Queensland, sold in five lots from 247kg to 282kg making from 424c/kg at the lighter end to 436c/kg at the heavier end.

Breeding females

Friday’s breeding female market was erratic, impacted in some cases by offering size.

On the positive side were 376 PTIC heifers that cleared 60pc, with prices up $258 on last week to average $2220; a small offering of 121 SM cows averaged $2406, up $931 on last week, with a 92pc clearance. NSM cows & calves averaged $2938/pair, up $243, and cleared 83pc.

Offsetting those results were SM heifers, down $423 to average $1152, while clearing 100pc of the offering of 519 head. PTIC cows also struggled, clearing just 21pc of the 270 offered, with prices down $367 to average $2268. Biggest losses were recorded for NSM heifers & calves, down $933 to average $3180, clearing 51pc of the 483 offered.

New South Wales supplied the largest share of Friday’s online listings at 4975 head (48pc), up 8pc week-on-week. Queensland listed 2823 head (27pc), up 8pc on last week.

Victoria offered 1445 head, down 18pc week-on-week due to rain.

Source: AuctionsPlus