These 88 Droughtmaster x Santa feeder heifers from Blackall, 416kg at 17-22 months made $1310, while their 125 younger sisters 12-15 months at 406kg made $1335 on Friday.

A STRONG surge in trading over the past fortnight sparked by rain has delivered weekly and monthly cattle turnover records for AuctionsPlus.

The national online marketing platform accounted for 47,038 head offered in March, smashing the previous record of 39,897 set in October last year.

This week also produced a weekly record offering of 13,226 head, beating last year’s record set in February of 13,045.

Biggest growth in numbers in percentage terms came from NSW, with a 58pc lift in volume compared to February, while Queensland numbers grew 27pc month-on-month.

The main stock category growth areas were cows with calves at foot, +38pc; and joined females and steers, both +47pc.

Last week’s explosion in numbers was strongly influenced by an offering of about 5200 head of quality Santa, Santa cross and Droughtmaster cattle from Central Western Queensland offered in the annual Clark & Tait and invited vendors surplus cattle sale.

Rain influence sees market rises of 5-20c

The surge in listings this week did not dampen buyers’ appetites, with 221 of the 289 lots offered online selling to total a 76pc clearance. Substantial rainfall across the eastern portion of Queensland, eastern sections of New South Wales and Victoria impacted on the market, as it has been doing at saleyards throughout the week.

Steer and unjoined heifer numbers dominated this week’s catalogue, with 4788 steers and 5185 unjoined heifers offered. Lighter cattle tended to drew strong buyer interest, although the market ranged from 5c to 20c dearer across most of the weight ranges.

Portion of a line of 226kg six-month-old Angus steers from Lemont, TAS selling for 501c/kg or $1130 on Friday.

Highlights included a line of 226kg six-month-old Angus steers from Lemont, TAS selling for 501c/kg or $1130. Part of a line of 100 steer calves offered by Stonehouse Grazing, their heavier half-sibs weighing 262kg and 299kg made $1220 and $1260, respectively. In NSW, a line of 243kg Rennylea and Dunoon blood 6-8 month old Angus steers from Bowna sold for 464c or $1130.

Further north, a line of 356kg Raff and Eaglehawk blood Angus steers from Goondiwindi, QLD sold for 379c or $1350. Speckle Park cross cattle continued to attract attention online this week with 212kg Speckle Park/Angus, 6-7 month old heifers from Scone, NSW selling for 601c/$1275, while Bugle Point and Minnamurra blood Speckle Park/Angus heifers 336kg at 8-10 months from Kelvin, NSW sold for 515c/$1730.

Portion of a line of 212kg Speckle Park/Angus, 6-7 month old heifers from Scone, NSW selling for 601c/$1275 yesterday.

In a breakdown of young cattle sold, by weight:

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 364c to 504c/kg to average 449c, up 22c; while heifers sold from 335-601c to average 401c, up 21c
• Steers 250-299kg sold from 332-465c to average 417c, up 6c; while heifers sold from 317-429c to average 353c, down 26c
• Steers 300-349kg sold from 335-433c to average 387c, down 4c; while heifers sold from 299-515c to average 353c, down 1c
• Steers 350kg + sold from 314-379c to average 356c, up 23c; while heifers sold from 315-364c to average 339c, up 20c.

Among the lines offered in the big Clark & Tait Central Queensland offering, a mob of 88 Droughtmaster x Santa feeder heifers 416kg at 17-22 months made $1310, while their younger sisters 12-15 months at 406kg made $1335; 140 station-mated Santa cows and calves, cows 2-12 years, from Blackall made $1900; and 112 weaned Droughtmaster steers 6-12 months averaging 251kg, made $1050.

Breeding cattle highlights

Preg-tested in calf and joined female prices drew back this week, selling to a top of $2205. The top price was paid for Angus and Angus cross 17-19 month old heifers, PTIC to Wagyu bulls, from Goondiwindi, QLD. A line of seven-year-old Rennylea blood PTIC Angus cows from Tooma, NSW sold for $2000.

First-calvers sold from $1100 to $2205, with an average of $1758, while 5-9 year old cows sold from $1120 to $2000, averaging $1618. Mixed aged cows and joined females ranged from $955 to $1370, averaging $1230.

This line 26-32 month old Hereford heifers with Hereford x Angus calves at foot from Boorowa, NSW sold for $2620 yesterday.

Cows and heifers with calves at foot were fewer in number this week. The top priced mob was a line 26-32 month old Hereford heifers with Kenny’s Creek blood Hereford/Angus cross calves averaging 46kg at foot. This line from Boorowa, NSW sold for $2620.

A line of 3-5 year old Murray Grey cows with Murray Grey/Angus cross calves at foot from Murray Bridge, SA sold for $2540.

Source: AuctionsPlus