These 126 Santa x Hereford feeder heifers 397kg at 14-21 months from Isisford, western Queensland made 377c/kg on Friday. Another 75 Angus x Santa heifers from the same vendor, 14-21 months averaging 410kg, returned 376c/kg.

CATTLE listings totalled 10,702 head on AuctionsPlus this week, lifting by 15 percent. Overall clearance rose to 90 percent.

Most steer and heifer lines lifted in c/kg value, while breeding female lines mostly trended down.

Steer and heifer category clearances mostly topped 90pc. This is a strong signal of alignment between vendor expectations and buyer demand. High clearance, especially when coupled with rising prices, reinforces current market momentum.

Interstate purchasing eased slightly to 32pc of cattle offered.

Among the steer offering, the offering of 1668 steers 330–400kg saw a rise of 72c/kg to average 494c, with a clearance of 88pc. Feeder weight steers +400kg saw a small offering of 309 head, clearing 98pc to average 516c/kg, up 26c on last week.

Lighter steers 280–330kg were also in demand, with the offering of 1313 head clearing 97pc to average 490c, up 49c on a week earlier. Lighter 200-280kg steers yarded 1371 head, clearing 99pc with prices similar to last week averaging 492c.

From Bethungra, NSW, 95 Angus steers 11-13 months averaging 358kg returned 539c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Anakie, VIC.

Among the heifers, prices were more variable. The biggest lift was seen in the 280–330kg category, which jumped 127c on last week to average 477c, with the offering of 560 clearing 99pc. Heifers 200-280kg lost 4c to average 413c, clearing 99pc of the offering of 1528 head. Heifers 330-400kg gained 12c to average 419c, while heavy heifers +400kg eased by 20c.kg to average 424c, from a small offering of 232 head.

From Isisford, QLD, 75 Angus x Santa heifers 14-21 months averaging 410kg returned 376c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Lavington, NSW. A further 126 Santa x Hereford feeder heifers from the same vendor, 397kg at 14-21 months, made 377c/kg

Breeding females

The breeding females category presented a mixed bag. Station mated cows and heifers both lost considerable ground, back $224 and $262 respectively to average $1938 and $1817.

PTIC heifers were the top performers, jumping $442 to average $2085, while PTIC cows lost $308 a head to average $1668, from a yarding of 424 head. An offering of 510  station-mated cows & calves slipped $196 to average $2054/pair.

Despite some standout prices, clearance rates for several breeding categories were low. PTIC cows (64pc) and PTIC heifers (60pc) may indicate buyers are cautious around longer-term investments, particularly joined females, or are being highly selective.

Listings and purchases were concentrated between NSW and Queensland, with Queensland buyers taking home an additional 1758 head this week.

From Jerilderie, NSW, a line of 21 Angus PTIC cows 2-5 years averaging 505kg returned $2300 and will travel to a buyer near Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Source: AuctionsPlus