This line of 50 15-18 month old Wagyu x Angus steers, 348kg, purchased as backgrounder steers by a vendor from Felton on Queensland’s Darling Downs, made 420c/kg this week. Another 50 similar steers 18-20 months 407kg from the same vendor made 424c. The steers had spent 70 days on grain.

FURTHER big price gains were seen across all young cattle categories on AuctionsPlus this week, as welcome rain continues to impact buyer sentiment.

Listing numbers jumped about 20pc to 10,436 head, with buyer interest remaining strong, producing a clearance of 88pc across all cattle sales. Buying strength came from the NSW Northwest slopes and plains, Southern QLD & Northern Tablelands.

Cow and calf numbers were up slightly with most listings coming from NSW & QLD.

Prices ranged from $1250 to $2100 and averaging $1675 up $304. Top price went to a line of Angus cows and calves from Tahara, VIC. These cows were 5-8 years averaging 574kg, with Angus calves at foot 5-6 months.

From the same vendors a line of three-year-old cows and calves sold for $2090 and a line of four and five year-old cows and calves sold for $1900.

From Cooma, NSW a line of Hazeldean blood Angus cows and calves sold for $2040. These EU accredited cows were aged 4-8 years and averaged 531kg. Out of Cunnamulla, QLD a line of Santa and Santa cross cows 4-11 years averaging 447kg, with calves at foot sold for $1575.

PTIC cows sold from $1260 to $2370 this week, averaging $1565, up $39 on last week. Top price went to a line of 2-3-year-old Angus cows, 642kg from Penshurst, VIC, PTIC to Weeran Angus bulls. Other highlights included Coolana blood Angus cows, 5-6 years, 579kg  and PTIC to Angus bulls, from Glenfyne, VIC, selling for $1850; Angus cows, 30 months 382kg and PTIC to Angus bulls, from Armidale, NSW, selling for $1690; Angus cows, 3-7 years, 460kg and PTIC to Angus bulls, from Captain Mountain, QLD selling for $1400. An unusual line of predominately Lincoln Reds and a variety of other British and European cross cows from Penola, SA were offered over three lines and sold for an average of $1667.

PTIC heifers sold from $1215 to $1760 this week, averaging $1427, down $220.

Top price went to a line of Angus heifers, 21-23 months averaging 448kg and PTIC to Tivoli Angus bulls from Merriwa, NSW. Other highlights include Angus heifers, 27-29 months, 629kg and PTIC to Angus bulls from Londrigan, VIC selling for $1660; and a line from Theodore, QLD of Angus cross and Santa cross heifers, 16-18 months, 321kg PTIC to Angus and Santa bulls selling for $1215.

Young cattle

Light steers less than 200kg sold from 390c to 584c this week, averaging 468c, up 30c. Top price went to 4-5 month-old Angus and Angus cross steers, 139kg from Europambela Grazing Co, Walcha, NSW. Other highlights included Angus steers, 5-6 months, 149kg from Braidwood, NSW selling for 473c; and Hereford steers, 6-7 months, 180kg from Korleelah, NSW selling for 466c.

Steers 200 to 280kg sold from 308-485c, averaging 415c, up 21c. Top price went to a line of 7-8 month old, Choice blood Angus steers, 239kg from Coolah, NSW. Other highlights included Angus x Shorthorn steers, 5-7 months, 206kg from Willow Tree, NSW selling for 444c; Shorthorn steers, 5-7 months, 204kg from Breeza, NSW selling for 435c; Santa and Santa cross steers, 7- 12 months, 220kg from St George, QLD selling for 412c; Angus steers 15-18 months, 249kg from Dungog, NSW selling for 410c.

Steers 280-330kg sold from 284c to 409c this week, averaging 379c, up 23c. Top price went to a line of 9-10-month-old, Angus steers 325kgs, from Loomberah, NSW. Other highlights included Angus steers, 14-15 months, 316kg, from Berry, NSW selling for 393c; Angus and Angus cross steers, 14-18 months, 308kg from Mundubbera, QLD selling for 390c; and Hereford steers, 10-11 months, 315kg from Highlands, VIC selling for 384c.

Steers 330 to 400kg sold from 267c to 420c this week, averaging 378c, up 22c. Top price went to a line of 15-18 month old, Wagyu x Angus steers, 348kg, purchased as backgrounder steers by a vendor from Felton, on Queensland’s Darling Downs. Other highlights included Angus steers, 9-11 months, 347kg, from Hexham, VIC selling for 401c; Angus steers, 14-15 months, 337kg from Carcoar, NSW selling for 401c; and Charolais cross steers, 13-16 months, 351kg from Surat, QLD selling for 376c.

Heavy steers +400kg sold from 296c to 424c this week, averaging 379c. Top price went to another line of 49 Wagyu x Angus steers from the same vendor at Felton, QLD, 18-20 months averaging 407kg. Other highlights included a line of Charolais cross steers, 13-16 months, 417kg from Surat, QLD selling for 378c; Murray Grey steers, 14-15 months, 416kg from Crookwell, NSW seeling for 305c; and Shorthorn steers, 12-14 months, 484kg from The Gap, NSW selling for 296c.

Light heifers less than 200kg sold from 338c to 469c this week, averaging 420c, up 3c. Top price went to 2-4 month old, Clunie Range blood Angus calves, 161kg from Coonamble, NSW. Other highlights include a line of Angus and Angus cross heifers, 3-6 months, 151kg from Braidwood, NSW selling for 451c; and Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster cross heifers, 12-13 months, 197kg from Tenterfield, NSW selling for 424c.

Heifers 200-280kg sold from 264-432c this week, averaging 379c, up 49c. Top price went to a line of 13-14 month old, Boxmoor blood Angus heifers, 203kg from Bundarra, NSW. Other highlights included a line of Shorthorn cross heifers, 5-7 months, 203kg from Willow Tree, NSW selling for 427c; Simmental x Angus heifers, 5-7 months, 201kg from Molong, NSW selling for 411c; and Santa cross heifers, 7-12 months, 215kg from St George, QLD selling for 393c.

Heifers 280-330kg sold from 287-381c this week, averaging 338c, up 23c. Top price went to a line of 17-18 month old Angus and Angus cross heifers 281kg from Barraba, NSW. Other highlights include a line of Angus heifers, 15-16 months, 314kg from Allora, QLD selling for 371c; Simmental cross and Red Angus cross heifers, 8-9 months, 313kg, from Loomberah, NSW selling for 365c; and Charolais cross and Santa cross heifers, 13-16 months, 329kg from Maclagan, QLD selling for 364c.

Heifers 300-400kg sold from 269c to 374c this week, averaging 350c, up 34c. Top price went to a line of 12-24 month old Angus cross heifers, 361kg from Tenterfield, NSW. Other highlights included a line of Angus and Angus cross heifers, 14-18 months, 365kg from Warialda, NSW selling for 371c; and Charolais cross heifers, 13-16 months, 369kg from Surat, QLD selling for 369c.

Heavy heifers +400kg sold from 280-314c, averaging 307c. Top price went to a line of 16-17-month-old, Angus heifers 436kg from Gerogery, NSW.

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

• Less than 200kg: Steers sold from 390c to 584c/kg to average 468c, while heifers sold from 338- 469c to average 420c
• 200-280kg: Steers sold from 308-485c to average 415c, while heifers sold from 264-432c to average 379c
• 280-330kg: Steers sold from 284-409c to average 379c, while heifers sold from 287-381c to average 338c
• 330-400kg: Steers sold from 267-420c to average 378c, while heifers sold from 269-374c to average 350c
• 400+kg: Steers sold from 296-424c to average 379c, while heifers sold to 280-314c to average 307c.

Source: AuctionsPlus