Steers 280-330kg sold from 446-679c this week, averaging 537c. Top price for the category was this line of 30 Wagyu x Angus, 9-10 months averaging 314kg from Bonegilla VIC. Their heifer sisters averaging 296kg made 638c, or $1890.

Young cattle prices remained near record levels in a larger offering of 12,260 head on AuctionsPlus this week.

With the increased offerings came a decline in clearances, averaging 78pc of all cattle listed. Southern Queensland and the NW Slopes and Plains of NSW dominated purchasing activity this week, taking 2332 head and 2278 head, respectively.

A clear recent trend on AuctionsPlus has been the restoration of premiums paid for Wagyu cross backgrounder and feeder cattle, with four steer and heifer categories in this week’s sale topped by F1 Wagyu.

Cows with calves at foot achieved a 72pc clearance for the week, selling from $1500 to $3790, with an average of $2689. Top price went to HR Keen Pty Ltd from Guyra NSW, with a line of two to four year old non-station mated Angus cows, 496kg, with 2-4-month-old CAF. They will make their way to Korumburra, VIC.

PTIC heifers sold from $1450 and $2700 this week, averaging $2306, with a clearance of 58pc. Top price went to a line of 28 Angus heifers 532kg from Derrinallum VIC, joined to Speckle Park bulls. From Strathdownie VIC, a line of Angus heifers averaging 520kg, PTIC to Angus bulls, returned $2660.

Young cattle

There were 3637 heifers on offer this week, with prices remaining strong and producing an 80pc clearance. Light heifers averaging less than 200kg sold from 562-708c/kg – averaging 620c. Top price was a line 4-5-month-old Speckle Park x Friesian heifers averaging 160kg.

Heifers 200-280kg ranged from 394c to 642c, averaging 547c. From Durong QLD, a line of 138 Gelbvieh x Red Angus composite and Santa/Droughtmaster cross heifers topped the category. The heifers ranged from 12-14 months and averaged 206kg, and will remain in QLD.

Heifers 280-330kg ranged from 419c to 638c this week, averaging 497c. Top price was a line of 25 unweaned Wagyu x Angus heifers 9-10-months averaging 296kg from Bonegilla VIC which returned $1890. Their 30 steer brothers, referenced below, made 679c.

Feeder heifers 330-400kg sold between 403-563c this week, averaging 473c. Top price was a line of 16-17 month-old Wagyu x Angus averaging 332kg, offered by Corinda Vale from Macarthur, VIC.

Heavy heifers averaging more than 400kg sold between 332-448c – averaging 428c. Top price was a run of 20 non-station mated Angus future breeders from WS & CB Pastoral, Frogmore NSW. The 16-18-month-old heifers averaged 401kg, and returned $1800.

A larger offering of 4320 steers this week produced a stronger clearance, at 87pc. Steers less than 200kg ranged from 410-748c, averaging 610c. From Gunbower VIC, 29 Speckle Park x Friesian unweaned steers 4-5-months averaging 161kg set top price at $1100. They are destined for Morven, QLD.

Steers 200-280kg sold from 423-655c, averaging 583c. Top price went to a line of 12-14-month-old composites averaging 209kg from Killara Cattle Co, Durong, QLD.

Steers 280-330kg sold from 446-679c, averaging 537c. A line of 30 Wagyu x Angus steers 9-10 months averaging 314kg from Bonegilla VIC topped the category, travelling to Kyogle, NSW.

Feeder steers 330-400kg sold from 403-536c, averaging 486c. Corinda Vale, Macarthur VIC, set top price for Wagyu x Angus steers 15-17-months averaging 344kg, returning $1850. From Guyra NSW, a line of 71 Angus steers 348kg also returned $1850/head.

Heavy steers +400kg sold from 342- 468c, averaging 446c. Top price was a line of 16-17-month-old Dunoon blood Angus steers averaging 420kg from Jindalee Pastoral Co, Henty NSW, travelling to Colbinabbin, VIC.

In Western Australia, this week’s sale achieved a clearance of 91pc for the 148 head on offer. Steers averaged 433c, with top price coming from a line of Angus steers 16-18 months 493kg from Pemberton WA, returning $1690. They will remain in the local Pemberton area.

In Tasmania, the week’s sale saw a clearance of 99pc for the 284 head offered. Heifers sold from $1370 to $1620 averaging $1507. Steers sold from $1400 to $1850 to average $1728. Top price was a line of non-station mated cows and calves from Calder, returning $2760. These units will travel to Hagley, TAS.

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

Less than 200kg: Steers sold from 410-748c/kg, to average 610c, while heifers sold from 562-708c to average 620c.

200-280kg: Steers sold from 423-655c to average 583c/kg, while heifers sold from 394-642c to averaging 547c.

280-330kg: Steers sold from 446-679c to average 537c, while heifers sold from 419-638c to average 497c.

330-400kg: Steers sold from 403-536c to average 486c, while heifers sold from 403-563c to average 473c.

More than 400kg: Steers sold from 342-468c to average 446c/kg, while heifers sold from 332-448c to average 428c.

Source: AuctionsPlus