These 132 Charolais x Santa steers 10-12 months averaging 357kg from Moama, NSW returned $1200/head, or 336c/kg on Friday, and will travel to a buyer near Warrnambool, VIC. Another 140 of their heavier brothers 405kg made 296.5c while 37 lighter brothers 303kg made 396c

CATTLE listings continued to fall on AuctionsPlus this week, dropping another 30pc on last week to 12,434 head. The smaller offering saw good uptake by buyers, with clearance rebounding 23 points on last week’s poor showing to 59pc.

After two weeks of declines, there was some price recovery evident among heifers, while steer results were mixed, on a c/kg basis.

Vendors who at the start of the year were overly optimistic in terms of price have failed to sell, but in recent weeks they have begun to meet the market. Their optimism has returned this week.

Across the larger listings of midweight steers and midweight heifers between 200kg and 400kg, clearance was a strong 60-74pc. Backgrounders looked to be active in the market, particularly out of Queensland where rain has been forecast.

Queensland buyers were most active in the heifer market, with an 83pc clearance seen, while steers cleared 69pc. They have been active in buying stock out of NSW. The good clearance on heifers particularly might also have something to do with the vendors deciding to meet the market. This week, reserves dropped $100 across the board.

Breeding stock continues to be hard to shift, scraping along at 35pc clearance.

Steers 200-280kg registered a 14pc smaller offering of 1692 head this week and averaged 425c/kg or $1067/head, for a 74pc clearance. Prices ranged from 191-469c.

From Bombala, NSW 75 Angus steers 6-8 months averaging 271kg returned $1205/head, or 444c/kg and will travel to a buyer near St George, QLD.

Prices for steers 280-330kg rose by 33c/kg from a low base last week, averaging 396c.

Steers 330-400kg registered a 36pc smaller offering of 1735 head and averaged 330c/kg – down 2c from last week for a 67pc clearance. Prices ranged from 290-394c.

From Moama, NSW 132 Charolais x Santa steers 10-12 months averaging 357kg returned $1200/head, or 336c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Warrnambool, VIC. Another 140 of their heavier brothers 405kg made 296.5c while 37 lighter brothers 303kg made 396c.

The three lots were well supported – in a marketing sense – by some of the best listing photos seen on AuctionsPlus in a very long time. See image at the top of this page, or click here to check out some more exceptional work.

Heavy feeders +400kg dropped 17c/kg this week, averaging 311c/kg, and selling from 297c to 361c.

Heifers

Heifers 200-280kg produced a 25pc larger offering this week of 1017 head and averaged 288c/kg – up 8c from last week for a 65pc clearance. Prices ranged from 210-372c. From Tamworth NSW,  11 Shorthorn heifers 7-8 months averaging 244kg returned 372c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Dunedoo, NSW.

Heifers 280-330kg registered a 28pc smaller offering of 1144 head and averaged 312c/kg, up 39c on last week for a 77pc clearance. Prices ranged from 258-333c. From Barraba, NSW 112 Angus heifers 14-18 months averaging 291kg returned 333c/kg and will travel to a buyer near St George, QLD.

Breeding females

PTIC heifers registered a 3pc larger offering of 1009 head and averaged $1695/head – up $278 from last week for a 10pc clearance. From Tarcutta, NSW 24 Angus heifers 18-20 months averaging 431kg returned $1530/head or 355c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Wellington, NSW.

PTIC cows registered a 38pc smaller offering of 881 head and averaged $1452 – down $224 from last week for a 56pc clearance. From Scone, NSW Simmental cows 2.5 to 4.5 years averaging 538kg returned $2000/head and will travel to a buyer near Baerami Creek, NSW.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 22 March.

Source: AuctionsPlus