The main movement last week through AuctionsPlus reduced commercial offerings was for PTIC heifers, slipping back 11% in price, to average $2,713/head.
Interestingly, while the average price was the lowest for several weeks, the clearance rate was also the highest for several weeks, at 83% – signaling that vendors eased reserve levels from previous week, anxious to lock in income heading into the second half of Autumn.
Out of Wandoan, Southern Queensland, 34 PTIC Santa Gertrudis heifers, joined to Santa Gertrudis bulls, sold to $2,960/head – averaging 527kg/head and ranging in age for 20-30 months.
Topping the southern markets was 35 PTIC Angus heifers (pictured) out of Coolac, NSW. Joined to Angus bulls, the PTIC heifers averaged 545kg/head and aged 20-21 months of age, sold to $3,620/head.
With numbers well back on previous weeks, the young steer market was patchy, with 200-280kg steers averaging $24 higher on last week, at $1,792/head – with a 72% clearance rate for the 1,731 head offered.
A line of 106 Angus weaned steers, out of Casterton, Victoria, sold to $2,170/head – averaging 270kg lwt, aged 7-8 months. The 280-330kg steers averaged $23 lower on last week, at $1,949/head, with a 77% clearance rate for the 1,071 head offered.
For the heavier lines, the market was marginally higher, albeit, with clearance rates well back on previous weeks for much reduced offerings. 330-400kg steers averaged $50 higher, at $2,167/head, while 400kg lines averaged $2,505/head.
Young heifer prices largely matched the steer lines, with the reduced numbers impacting clearance rates and average prices. The largest category for the week, at 721 head, 200-280kg heifers declined $208 on last week, to average $1,554/head – with only a 58% clearance rate recorded. Some of the more indicative results for the week included 100 Charolais and Charolais/Droughtmaster cross weaned heifers, out of Richmond, North Queensland, which sold to $1,400/head – averaging 198kg lwt and ranging from 5-7 months of age.
In the southern markets, 34 Hereford NSM future breeders, out of Glenrowan West, Victoria, sold to $2,150/head – averaging 389kg lwt, aged 13-15 months. From Minlaton, SA, 16 Red Poll weaned heifers sold to $1,700/head – averaging 308kg lwt, aged 10-12 months.
18 SM Charbray cows, with 18 CAF sold to $4,110/head. Out of Roma, Southern Queensland, the cows ranged from 2-12 years of age, averaging 585kg lwt, while the calves, sired by Droughtmaster bulls, averaged 149kgs lwt.