Part of a line of 102 Santa cross steers 8-12 months averaging 327kg from Thargomindah, QLD that returned $1350/head or 413c/kg on Thursday.

Most young cattle categories on AuctionsPlus continued to rise in value in an Australia Day holiday-shortened trading week this week.

Numbers listed were down 39pc on the week before with an offering of around 7000 head. Weekly sales this week were held on Thursday instead of Friday.

Despite the smaller yarding and stronger price trends, clearance fell by nine percentage points to 76pc.

Processors were active this week, with 19pc of the sold offering (1008 head) being secured by seven different processer buyers. Tuesday’s weekly kill report clearly flagged the challenges processors have been experiencing raising kills in the first few weeks of the new season, pushing more buying activity into saleyards and online.

Processor online purchases this week were made up of unjoined heifers and steers ranging between 242kg and 516kg average liveweight, across a variety of breeds.

Processers have made their presence felt online so far in in 2024, with purchasing averaging 17pc of sales, which is considerably up on 2023 which averaged 6pc and an eight-year average of 9pc.

Steers 280-330kg this week averaged 400c/kg, rising another 8c on last week for the 446 head on offer. The category recorded a 90pc clearance.

From Thargomindah, QLD 102 Santa cross steers 8-12 months averaging 327kg returned $1350/head, or 413c/kg.

Steers 330-400kg lifted another 2c on last week to average 368c, with 1177 head offered.

A small offering of feeder steers +400kg declined 4c to average 344c.

Heifers 330-400kg registered 972 head this week, with the offering hitting an 87pc clearance and prices jumping another 25c to average 350c/kg.

From Blayney, NSW 68 Angus heifers 15-16 months averaging 378kg returned $1500 or 397c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Albury, NSW, while a further 68 sisters, similar weight and age, made 392c or $1480.

Lighter heifers 280-330kg improved another 10c/kg to average 328c.

From Blayney, NSW this line of 68 Angus heifers 15-16 months averaging 378kg returned $1500 or 397c/kg, while a further 68 sisters, similar weight and age, made 392c or $1480.

Breeding females

PTIC heifers experienced some strong returns this week, with the average price lifting $243 to average $2062/head for the 444 head on offer, which resulted in a 66pc clearance.

From Elingamite, VIC 14 Angus heifers 23-24 months averaging 580kg returned $2520/head, and will travel into SA.

PTIC cows were only thinly traded, with 311 head changing hands, producing a $58 average increase to $2057.

Prices as at 2pm Thursday 25 January.

Source: AuctionsPlus.