Part of an offering of 140 PTIC Angus heifers, 23 months, from McRae Pastoral, Inverloch, VIC which sold over six lots to a top of $1510.

CATTLE numbers offered on AuctionsPlus decreased another 17 percent this week to 5964 head, but increased demand saw clearance rates rise to 51pc at auction. Among young cattle, heifer and steer prices across all weight categories fell this week – in places sharply.

The New South Wales listings attracted significant interstate bidding, with more than half of the state’s offerings heading across the borders into QLD, VIC, SA and TAS.

Victorian buyers were particularly active, accounting for 42pc of successful purchases, with the slightly better season down south enabling buyers to secure lots out of drought-affected areas of NSW and QLD.

Cow and calf numbers were in short supply, and mixed in quality. Prices ranged from $640 to $1570 and averaged $1061, down $45 on last week. The top priced offering was a small lot of 18 Angus/Hereford first-calvers, aged 2-3 years from Tumut, NSW.

The cows, with 160kg average Reiland Angus sired calves at foot, have been joined back to Reiland bulls.

Out of Lake Cargelligo, NSW a line of 98 Charolais cows, aged five years with 160kg Shorthorn-sired calves at foot returned $1400. The cows have been joined back to Shorthorn and Angus bulls and will be heading to greener grass in south-west Victoria.

Out of Lake Cargelligo, NSW this line of 98 PTIC Charolais cows, aged five years with Shorthorn-sired calves at foot returned $1400.

Joined females were in short supply and well received by buyers, with strong bidding activity from restockers in SA and VIC. PTIC heifers sold from $1125 to $1510 to average $1386, up $468 on last week.

Numbers were supported by a large offering of 140 Angus heifers from McRae Pastoral, Inverloch, VIC which were broken up into two drafts – 75 tops and 65 seconds – sold over six lots. The heifers were aged 22-23 months and PTIC to Yancowinna and Rennylea bulls. The tops of the offering returned $1510, while the seconds averaged $1350.

PTIC cow prices were also significantly up on last week, averaging $1350 and ranging from $690 to $2150. This was lifted by an offering of 60 cows offered by Eyriewald Santa Gertrudis Stud, Winton, QLD, sold over six lots. The total offering, aged 2-11 years, PTIC to stud Santa bulls averaged $1970.

Out of Braidwood, NSW a line of 24 four-year-old Angus cows, PTIC to Angus bulls returned $855, while a large large offering of 336 Charbray cross cows from Alpha, central Queensland, aged 3-10 years, PTIC to Charbray, Droughtmaster, Limousin and Brangus bulls returned $700.

In a breakdown of young cattle sold, by weight range:

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 242c to 294c, averaging of 268c; while heifers sold from 191-313c, averaging 228c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 209-298c, averaging 267c; while heifers sold from 164-341c, averaging 238c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 299-308c, averaging 303c ; while heifers sold from 214-269c, averaging 251c
• Heifers 350-400kg sold for 268c

National Steer Highlights

Santa Gertrudis steers 9-12 month old, 275kg, from ROLLESTON, QLD sold for 298c/820

Shorthorn steers 11-12 months, 291kg, from GOONDIWINDI, QLD sold for 270c/785

Angus steers 12-13 months, 302kg, from ARMIDALE, NSW sold for 309c/930

Angus steers 11 months, 324kg, from GUNDAGAI, NSW sold for 302c/975

Angus steers 11-12 months, 336kg, from EARLSTON, VIC sold for 300c/1005

National Heifer Highlights

Poll Hereford/Angus heifers 10-11 months, 291kg, from GOONDIWINDI, QLD sold for 230c/670

Santa Gertrudis/Shorthorn Cross heifers 9-11 months, 274kg, from GOONDIWINDI, QLD sold for 230c/630

Poll Hereford/Hereford heifers 10-11 months, 229kg, from BARRATTA, NSW sold for 275c/630

Shorthorn heifers 11-12 months, 2675kg, from HAY, NSW sold for 271c/720

Angus heifers 11-12 months, 329kg, from QUIRINDI, NSW sold for 269c/885

Angus heifers 11-12 months, 293kg, from EARLSTON, VIC sold for 342c/1000

Angus heifers 9-10 months, 217kg, from NABOWLA, TAS sold for 314c/680

Lincoln Red/Shorthorn heifers 20-24 months, 484kg, from BALINGUP, WA sold for 268c/1297

Source: AuctionsPlus