The two lightest young heifer categories bounced back last week, with 200-280kg lines averaging $162 higher, at $1,762/head.
With a very thin offering, less than 200kg heifers averaged $79 up on the previous week, at $1,279/head. The heaviest lines averaged lower for the week, with 330-400kg lines slipping $57, to average $2,086/head.
From Drillham, Southern Queensland, 67 Santa Gertrudis/Composite and Angus/Composite weaned heifers (pictured), sold to $1,840/head – averaging 333kg, aged 10-15 months.
The 330-400kg steers averaged $57 lower last week, at $2,117/head, despite a very robust 85% clearance rate for the 1,839 head offered.
Out of Mitchell, Southern Queensland, 84 Santa Gertrudis/Santa Gertrudis cross backgrounder steers, averaging 380kg liveweight and ranging between 13-15 months of age, sold to $2,300/head. 400kg+ steers continue to remain relatively stable, averaging $2,434/head – down $7 on last week.
Through the lighter steer lines, 200-280kg lines recovered some of last week’s 7% price decline, averaging $48 higher at $1,768/head. The 280-330kg steers averaged $19 lower, at $1,972/head, with an improved 79% clearance rate for the 1,512 head offered.
PTIC heifers were again the dominant category for the week, with the 3,380 head making up 19% of the market. With restockers and breeders remaining very cautious at the current price levels, PTIC heifers averaged slightly higher for the week, at $3,061/head – even though they recorded the lowest clearance rate across the major categories at 46%.
Topping the category for the week was 29 Angus PTIC heifers, joined to Angus bulls, out of Guyra NSW, which sold to $4,600/head – averaging 611kg and aged 32-36 months.
An 80% jump in the weekly offering of PTIC cows, at 2,472 head, had a minor impact on prices this week, averaging $44 lower, at $2,899/head. Bloodlines and cow age continue to be the main determinant of the PTIC cow movements each week, with careful buying seeing the clearance rate hit 56% this week – up from 48%.
A line of 23 Angus PTIC cows, joined to Angus bulls, out of Gatton Southern Queensland, sold to $3,200/head – averaging 492kg and ranging from 4-9 years of age.
Out of Barcaldine Queensland, 28 SM Droughtmaster and Brahman cows, with 28 CAF sold to $3,120/head. The cows ranged from 6-10 years of age, averaging 453.2kg liveweight, while the calves sired by Droughtmaster bulls, averaged 226kgs.
-AuctionsPlus