Light weight steers closing in on 800c/kg mark

Published January 11, 2021

Light steers weighing under 200kg sold from 290c to 762c/kg – averaging 608c/kg on AuctionsPlus last week.

The top price was achieved by a line of 7 steer calves (pictured), three months-old, weighing 92kg from Camena, TAS.

A line of Angus cross weaned steers, 5-7 months old, weighing 177kg from Millmerran QLD, returned 654c/kg.

Steers weighing 200-280kg sold between 504c and 606c/kg – averaging 573c/kg. The top price was secured by a line of 32 Santa Gertrudis cross steers from Bourke, NSW.

The steers were 6-12 months old, weighed 225kg and will travel to Gunnedah, NSW. Meanwhile, across the border in Millmerran QLD, a line of 18 Angus and Angus cross steers, 5-7 months old, weighing 215kgs, retuned 604c/kg.

There was a single line of steers in the 280-330kg category. From Ridgley TAS, the line of Murray Grey unweaned steers, 6.5-10.5 months old, weighing 322kgs, returned 552c/kg.

Feeder steers weighing 330-400kg sold between 423c and 501c/kg – to average 474c/kg. The top price was achieved by a line of 16 Angus and Angus cross steers from Corryong, VIC.

The Alpine Angus blood steers were 9-10 months old, weighed 334kg and will remain local. Across the border in Wagga Wagga NSW, a line of 28 Angus steers, 9-10 months old, weighing 388kg, returned 481c/kg.

Heavy steers weighing 400kg+ ranged from 392c to 453c/kg – averaging 430c/kg. From Tintinara SA, a line of 37 Simmental and Simmental cross steers topped the category. The Lakeside and Mt Mooney Simmental blood steers were 9-10 months old, weighed 408kg and will travel to Burra, SA.

Cows with calves at foot (CAF) achieved 100% clearance for the 411 head offered, with prices ranging between $1,620 and $3,510/head – averaging $2,542/head.

The top price was achieved by a line of station mated Poll Hereford cows and calves from Narrawa, NSW.

The cows were 3.5 years- old, weighed 637kg, with their 2-4 months old CAF weighing 144kg.

From Mount Gambier SA, a line of 62 Angus cows and calves returned $3,160/head. The 3-4 year-old cows weighed 487kg and their CAF were 6-16 weeks old, weighing 121kgs and will travel north to Moree, NSW.

PTIC heifers sold between $1,800 and $2,940/head – averaging $2,392/head. The highest priced lot originated from Glen Innes NSW, with a line of 23 Angus heifers PTIC to Dulverton Angus bulls returning $2,940/head.

The Bald Blair and Glenmorgan blood heifers were rising three year-olds, weighed 558kg and due for April 21’ calving. From Penola SA, a line of Poll Hereford/Angus PTIC heifers returned $2,825/head. The rising two-year-old heifers were PTIC to Angus bulls and weighed 588kg.

The 962 heifers on offer this week attracted strong demand, with a 98% clearance rate.

Light heifers weighing under 200kg sold from 577c, to 815c/kg – averaging 690c/kg. The top price was achieved by a line of 15 Angus cross heifer calves, which were 3 months old, weighing 86kg, from Camena, TAS. A line of 27 Angus and Angus cross weaned heifers, 5-7 months old, weighing 176kgs returned 625c/kg.

Heifers weighing 200-280kg ranged from 462c to 657c/kg – to average 558c/kg. From Miles QLD, a line of 80 Charolais/Brahman cross and Santa cross heifers topped the category.

The heifers ranged from 5-16 months-old, averaged 200kg and are heading to Wandoan, QLD.

Heifers weighing 280-330kg sold between 378c and 522c/kg – averaging 464c/kg. The top price was secured by a line of 13 unweaned Murray Grey heifers from Ridgely, TAS. The heifers were 7-10 months-old, weighed 312kg and will remain in TAS.

Feeder heifers 330-400kg sold from 390c to 555c/kg – to average 460c/kg. From Canowindra NSW, a line of Poll Hereford/Hereford heifers topped the category, with the future breeders 12-15 months old, weighing 333kg and headed north-west to Bourke, NSW.

A line of 41 Angus heifers, 16-18 months-old, weighing 344kg from Guyra NSW, returned $1,810/head.

The small offering of heavy heifers weighing 400+kgs were priced from 329c to 374c/kg – averaging 349c/kg. The top price was achieved by a line of 11 Angus/Friesian cross heifers, 16-18 months old, weighing 434kg.

The 1,019 steers offered this week did not attract the same strong demand as the heifers, with a 67% clearance rate achieved.

Looking across Bass Strait to Tasmania, the first week of the year kicked off strong with 100% clearance.

This week saw 156 head on offer, of which 121 head were calves. Selling from $700 to $800/head – averaging $720/head, the top priced lot of calves were a line of mixed sex Speckle Park/Friesian calves weighing 131kgs from Camina.

Weaners sold from $1,560 to $1,780/head, averaging $1,678/head, with the top price going to a line of Murray Grey weaner steers weighing 322kg from Ridgley.

-AuctionsPlus