Among larger lines sold this week, the Australian Agricultural Co sold 482 Mitchell (formerly known as Barkly) composite heifers, 18-24 months, in eight lots, ranging from 338kg to 408kg. Bred on the Barkly Tableland before relocation this month to Surat in southern QLD, they ranged in price from 425c to 439c/kg for lighter lines.

AuctionsPlus throughput was little changed this week, with 14,405 head listed, however the final week of the 2020-21 financial year certainly ended on a high for the young cattle market, with the EYCI hitting a fresh record of 932c/kg during the week*.

(*see Friday’s Weekly Grill podcast commentary on recent market performance here).

More rain through key regions helped to top-up already strong demand for young cattle, especially for the online heifer categories, as the increasingly wet winter in many southern regions has producers looking forward to spring.

Clearance rates through the young cattle lines was high, exceeding 90pc for half of the indicative categories. Mid-weight steers 280-330kg declined this week, averaging $1634, while 330-400kg segment jumped $45 to $1834/head.

In the north this week, a line of 120 weaned Angus x Droughtmaster steers out of Isisford, 6-9 months averaging 239kg, sold for 631.5c/kg to return $1510/head. The line attracted plenty of bidder attention, boosted by the combination of size of the offering and plenty of potential weightgain.

Similarly, a line of 40 unweaned Angus steers 206kg at 6-8 months, out of the NSW Northern Tablelands, sold to $1455/head.

At the heaviest end of the steer market, a line of 43 Santa Gertrudis feeder steers averaging 477kg at 12-19 months, out of Hungerford in western NSW, sold for $2410.

Influenced by some exceptional lines of cattle, including a big result for eight heifers out of Tasmania, the two heaviest heifer categories jumped $13 and $116 on last week – with impressive clearances of 98pc and 100pc, respectively.

While the young cattle market grabs the headlines, demand for suitable breeding cattle remains very strong, especially for renowned lines of PTIC heifers and cows. The online average for PTIC heifers dipped $113 this week to average $2245 – with a 42pc clearance of the 2407 head offered indicating some very selective buying.

The online PTIC cow market slipped $129 this week, averaging $2356/head – with a 79pc clearance for the 1946 head offered.

Out of Quilpie in far western Queensland, a line 62 station-mated Brangus cows 4-9 years averaging 501kg, with 62 CAF, sold to $3000/unit.

From Charters Towers, 70 NSM Red Poll cows averaging 379kg at 3-4 years, with CAF, sold to $2400. From southern NSW, an excellent line of 46 PTIC Bongongo Angus heifers out of Cootamundra, averaging 468kg at 21-22 months, sold to $3010/head.

Among larger lines sold this week, the Australian Agricultural Co sold 482 Mitchell (formerly known as Barkly) composite heifers, 18-24 months, in eight lots, ranging from 338kg to 408kg. Bred on the Barkly Tableland before relocation this month to Surat in southern QLD, they ranged in price from 425c to 439c/kg for lighter lines.

Prices as at 2pm Friday.

Online buyers drive competition at string of store sales

STOCKLIVE buyers dominated bidding action across lighter lines at multiple Victorian and NSW store sales this week, boosting competition and pushing prices to hit $3840/head at one sale.

The keen online-bidding activity kicked off during the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange Store Cattle Sale on Thursday, where a pen of first-calf cows with calves account Scott M McKimmie reached $3840/head.

Tim Hayes, Corcoran Parker Stock and Station Agents, described the total yarding, which consisted of 1700 head, as good quality and said prices were dearer across the board.

“Prices were very good and about $50/head dearer than our last fortnightly store sale,” Mr Hayes said.

StockLive buyers contributed more than 105 bids during the auction, and a buyer from New England became the sale’s volume online purchaser, securing 50 heifers.

Highlights in this buyer’s run included a pen of 10 Murray Grey heifers 263kg which made $1290/head, and a line of Shorthorns averaging 232kg, bought for $1240/head.

Across the full auction, the steer price peaked at $1825/head and the heifer price reached $1650.

Later in the week at the South-West Victorian Livestock Exchange Store Sale on Friday, a volume vendor set a cracking pace for the steer portion, reaching a top of more than $2500/head. The large run of 300 quality Angus cattle, from Toora West, weighed from 400kg to 500kg and sold from 530c/kg to 540c/kg.

Warrnambool Stock Agents Association President, Jack Kelly, said the exceptional quality steers established the tone for the rest of the auction, which in total had 252 bids from StockLive.

“The steers were exceptional quality and lifted the price 30-40c/kg compared to our last store sale for that weight range,” Mr Kelly said.

He noted that online buyers boosted competition throughout the auction, particularly across the 220 to 300kg categories.

“StockLive buyers were most active across the lighter end of the steers and in the crossbred heifer lines, but we had online bidding throughout the entire auction.”

In total, 92 head were purchased online, and sale highlights included a 280kg Angus pen, offered by Yann Arie, which made $1350/head.

An online buyer from Yarrawonga secured a run of Angus heifers from the sale, including a Mahogany Grazing pen, which averaged 305kg to total $1481/head.

Also on Friday, StockLive drove bidding competition at the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange Store Sale, where more than 150 head were snapped up by online buyers. The store sale had been postponed earlier this month due to snowfalls, which Todd Clements, Bowyer and Livermore, said boosted overall buying confidence.

“As there is a bit more moisture in the ground, I think people had more confidence to buy, and I think that worked to lift the market,” he said.

Steer prices reached $2700/head and heifers topped at $1785, and Mr Clements noted the 1000 head contingent, from the Bowyer and Livermore yarding, averaged 588c/kg.

In total, 2300 head were sold, with StockLive contributed 249 bids throughout the sale.

Online sale highlights included a line of Angus heifers offered by Redlea Partnership, that made $1310/head when bought by a Tamworth buyer.

The buyer snapped up a combined 91 head during the auction, which included a Speckle Park pen for $1310/head, and a quality Angus line for $1480/head.

A New England buyer bought these 263kg Murray Grey heifers, for $1290/head via StockLive during the NVLX Store Sale.

Sources: AuctionsPlus, Stocklive