These 147 Angus steers 6-7 months averaging 215kg from Cootamundra, NSW, returned 619c/kg yesterday, and will travel to a buyer near Narrandera, NSW.

CATTLE offerings fell sharply on AuctionsPlus this week with 8650 head catalogued, down 27 percent on the previous week as the prospect of rain slowed interest from some vendors.

Clearance declined by ten percentage points to 70pc.

Listing volumes contracted nationally this week, with eastern states contributing the majority of supply. Purchasing activity remained concentrated across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, where competition for lighter steers underpinned the week’s strongest price gains.

Lighter and mediumweight steers improved in c/kg price, while heifer values were mostly softer. Steers led the market, averaging 529c/kg LW and maintaining a 90c/kg premium over heifers.

Steers 200-280kg lifted 28c/kg on last week to average 562c, while clearing 78pc of the offering of 1500.

Mediumweights 280-330kg improved 16c to average 524c, clearing 77pc of an offering of 1050. In heavier lines, steers 330-400kg gained 15c to average 503c, while +400kg descriptions lost 12c to average 478c, clearing72pc of the offering of 600.

Among steer highlights, 147 Angus steers 6-7 months averaging 215kg from Cootamundra, NSW, returned 619c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Narrandera, NSW.

Twenty six 26 Angus steers 4-6 months averaging 117kg from Glen Alice, NSW, returned $760/head or 647c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Rylstone, NSW.

From Pemberton, WA, 25 Angus heifers 8-9 months averaging 291kg returned 514c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Albany, WA.

Heifers

Heifers 200–280kg was the only category to improve, lifting 38c to average 463c, but clearing only 63pc of the 932 head offered.

Heifers 280-330kg eased marginally to average 426c, while 330-400kg types lost 4c to average 424c, clearing 55pc of the 843 offered.

Heavier 400kg+ heifers lost 25c to average 411c, clearing 86pc of the small offering of 215 head, reflecting more selective demand at the heavier end.

Among larger lines of young cattle sold this week were 237 Wagyu x Angus F1 weaned steers and heifers 5-7 months from Merriwa NSW, with the steer portion averaging 214kg making 528c/kg and the heifers averaging 192kg averaging 438c. Another five lots of Wagyu x weaners, yearlings and backgrounders totalling 205 head failed to find buyers.

Breeding females

Breeding females cleared only 62pc.

Among larger offerings, PTIC cows saw 539 offered, clearing 65pc, with prices falling $599 to average $1683. PTIC heifers offered 451, clearing 47pc, with prices up $435 to average $2227.

The only other breeding female offering above 200 head was SM cows and calves, which edged $18 higher to average $2127, clearing 86pc of the offering of 208 head.

Source: AuctionsPlus