Among larger lines offered on Friday, these 97 Brangus weaned steers 296kg at 6-10 months from Tambo, Qld made 472c/kg

YOUNG cattle prices continued to surge in online trading last week, where AuctionsPlus listed a smaller offering of 9877 head, down 8pc on the previous week. With the reduced offering size, clearance reached 92pc.

On the back of recent rain, most steer and heifer categories lifted in double-digit terms, on a c/kg basis.

Victoria recorded the most significant week-on-week rise in purchasing activity, increasing by 1156 head to 1806 – more than doubling its previous week volume.

South Australia and Tasmania also lifted, up 190 and 129 head respectively. In contrast, Queensland experienced a pullback, with purchasing down 2199 head to 2080. New South Wales eased slightly, falling by 160 head to finish the week at 4167.

Among better represented steer categories, supply wise, steers 200–280kg lifted by 60c/kg to average 552c/kg, with the offering of 1810 head clearing 79pc. Steers 280–330kg produced an offering of 1091 head, clearing 98pc, while averaging 543c/kg, up 53c.

The 330-400kg steer category yarded 913 head, clearing 76pc, to lift 44c/kg to average 526c.

The only steer category to oppose the trend was heavy feeders+400kg, which fell 5c/kg in value to average 511c, while clearing the catalogue of 774 head.

Seventy eight Angus steers 18-21 months averaging 469kg from Thallon, NSW, returned 533c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Burra, SA.

From Goulburn, NSW, 115 Angus steers ten months averaging 299kg returned 629c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Moree, NSW.

Among larger lines offered this week, 105 Brahman weaned heifers 241kg at 9-13 months from Richmond, North Queensland made 282c/kg, while 152 weaned Santa steers 284kg at 6-9 months from Blackall, Central Western Qld made 497c/kg, and 97 Brangus weaned steers 296kg at 6-10 months from Tambo, Qld made 472c/kg

The heifer market also showed a stronger trend, with the exception of mediumweights 280-330kg which lost 24c/kg to average 451c, clearing 93pc of an offering of 1057 head.

Highlights included lighter heifers 200-280kg that saw a 99pc clearance of an offering of 1810 head, with prices 49c/kg the better to average 461c.Heavy feeder weight heifers +400kg gained 32c/kg to average 456c, clearing the offering of 549 head.

Heifers in the 330–400kg weight range were up slightly by $29 to $1,480/head, while 280–330kg category was the only bracket to experience a softening in price, easing to $1,365/head.

From Armidale, NSW, a line of 87 Angus heifers aged 20 to 23 months old and weighing 425kg returned $2,210/head, or 521c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Burra, SA.

Breeding females

Breeding females presented mixed results, despite only light offerings in most categories.

PTIC heifers lost $469 to average $1550, while PTIC cows (the largest catalogue entry with 214 head) gained $407 to average $2075 .Station-mated cows recorded a $616 rise to $2554, with SM cows and calves, yarding only 129 head, up $700 to average $2754/head. Clearance was more selective in the breeding female categories, with PTIC cows clearing just 45pc, suggesting buyers remain cautious around joined females.

From Colac, VIC, 122 Angus heifers 10-11 months averaging 214kg returned 637c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Wodonga, VIC.

Source: AuctionsPlus