Among larger lines offered this week, 517 light conditioned Santa and Santa cross heifers 4-16 months from Adavale, western Queensland offered in four lots ranging from 205kg to 144kg, sold from 325c/kg at the heavier end to 371c/kg for the lighter mob. Click on image for a larger view

THERE were further lifts in c/kg terms in most steer and heifer categories in a smaller yarding of 12,023 head on AuctionsPlus yesterday. The offering was down 1800 head or 13pc on last week.

Mixed competition drove a clearance rate of 67pc. Although reduced offerings and lower clearance rates indicate selective buyer interest, strong results in key steer and heifer categories, along with a 47c/kg rise in the AYCI, signals positive market sentiment.

Lighter steer and heifer categories showed some solid gains. Steers 200–280kg averaged 414c/kg this week, up 16c on last week, with an offering of 1653 head clearing 82pc.

Steers 280-330kg were little changed from last week at 398c/kg, with the offering of 1345 head clearing 56pc, while steers weighing 330–400kg fared better, rising 29c/kg to average 392c, with a 96pc clearance of 1111 head.

Heavier feeder steers + 400kg lost 4c on last week to average 357c, with a 68pc clearance.

A line of 121 Santa steers 10-14 months averaging 304kg from Barcaldine, western Queensland returned 422c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Charleville, Queensland.

All heifer categories enjoyed price rises on last week and a small increase to numbers offered, buoyed by steady buyer demand.

Heifers less than 200kg produced a total clearance of 318 head, with prices lifting a healthy 76c to average 375c. Heifers 200-280kg gained 24c/kg to average 346c, clearing 79pc of an offering of 1549 head.

Among larger lines offered this week, 517 light conditioned Santa and Santa cross heifers 4-16 months from Adavale, western Queensland offered in four lots ranging from 205kg to 144kg, sold from 325c/kg at the heavier end to 371c/kg for the lighter mob.

Heavier heifers weighing 330–400kg rose 2c to average 321c/kg, with a 72pc clearance, while heifers +400kg saw a modest increase of 6c to average 332c, but clearing only 60pc.

A line of 114 Charolais cross heifers 9-12 months averaging 269kg from Aramac Central Queensland returned 342c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Bollon, Queensland.

Breeding females

Among breeding females, PTIC cows and heifers both fell heavily in value, with the cows dropping $231 a head to average $1735 and the heifers down $342 to average $1431. Clearances were 60pc and 33pc, respectively. A small yarding of SM cows and calves saw an average increase of $374 on last week to average $2043/pair. PTIC cows averaged$1735/head with 60pc of listings cleared.

State listings and purchases remained relatively steady compared to last week, with Queensland and Victoria each adding about 900 extra head to their total offerings.

From Condah Swamp, Victoria, 14 Angus cows 3-4 years averaging 655kg returned $1940/head and will travel to a buyer near Hamilton, Victoria.

Source: AuctionsPlus