These PTIC Angus heifers from Gunnedah, NSW, sold for $3900.
For the female categories, the proven joined lines all kicked higher last week, with PTIC heifers rising $102 on the previous week, to average $3,310/head.
Easily the largest category for the week, the 2,499 head offered sold to an 80% clearance rate. Interestingly, the PTIC Angus lines, which made up 61% of the category, sold to a 92% clearance rate, and averaged slightly higher at $3,462/head.
With PTIC cows also dearer, up $374 on the previous week, to average $3,039/head, the desire and willingness to pay for accelerated herd growth continues unabated into early 2022.
Young heifers averaged higher through the lightest lines, with the 200-280kg lines averaging $49 higher, to $1,612/head – with a 98% clearance rate for the 934 head offered. After the sharp jump last week, the 280-330kg category fell back in line, averaging $1,889/head.
Of note, the 330-400kg heifer category edged $20 higher on last week, to $2,118/head – which has opened one of the largest weekly differentials with PTIC heifers on record, at $1,192/head.
Except for the heaviest category, the young steer categories largely held steady to slightly higher on last week, absorbing the higher supplies offered both through the online market and at various physical markets.
The highly desired 200-280kg category registered an 89% clearance rate for the 1,580 head offered, with prices slipping only $3 on last week to average $1,839/head. 280-330kg steers edged $4 higher, to average $2,099/head, while the heavier 330-400kg lots averaged $2,220/head – up $29 on the previous week.
Feeder steers slipped back $107, eroding the previous week’s gains, to average $2,499/head, or 32c lower, at 550c/kg lwt.
The clearance rate for the category also slipped, finishing the sale at 64% for the 1,295 head offered, with the increased availability of 400kg+ steers in both the physical and online market so far in 2022 having a minor impact on prices.
-AuctionsPlus