These Angus steers, 488kg, from Holbrook, NSW, sold for $3000.
The largest moves last week were through the young heifer lines, with the four lightest categories all taking a significant step back on previous weeks.
Assisting the decline was an overall jump in numbers offered, especially for the 280-330kg and 330-400kg lines, which increased by 72% and 91% on last week, respectively.
A subdued 52% clearance rate was registered for the 1,661 head of 280-330kg heifers offered, which averaged $199 lower on last week, at $1,855/head. From Hughenden Queensland, a line of 140 Brahman NSM future breeders aged 12-18 months and weighing 297kg lwt returned $1,500/head, or 506c/kg lwt to a buyer at Quilpie.
While registering stronger clearance rates at 73%, both the 200-280kg and 330-400kg heifer lines also slipped, down $121 and $109/head, respectively. A thin offering of 364 400kg+ heifers, with a clearance rate of 86%, bucked the heifer trend, finishing $94 higher on last week, at $2,418/head.
From Burrowye Victoria, a line of 38 Angus yearling heifers aged 18-20 months, weighing 411kg lwt returned $2,610/head, or 634c/kg – destined for Yass NSW.
It was two-down-three-up for the five young steer categories this week. While the less than 200kg category can be volatile each week, depending on breed and quality, the 280-330kg category dropped $172/head this week, finishing at $1,991/head – after jumping $125 last week.
Demand for quality lighter lines continued to underpin the 200-280kg category, with the 2,873 head selling to an 80% clearance rate – averaging $16 higher on last week, at $1,801/head.
From Rolleston, Central Queensland, four lines of 360 EU accredited Santa Gertrudis backgrounder steers, aged 5-8 months, weighing an average of 222kg lwt returned $1,830-$1,840/head, or 830c/kg lwt.
The same vendor also offered 220 heifers in two lines, weighing an average of 206kg lwt, which returned $1,800/head. All 580 head were purchased by the same buyer.
Feeder steers remained in steady demand, with last weeks larger offering of 714 head selling to a 72% clearance rate and averaging $85 higher, at $2,579/head.
From Holbrook NSW, 56 Angus feeder steers aged 18-20 months and weighing 474kg lwt returned $2,990/head, or 631c/kg lwt. The vendor offered a second line of 24 Angus feeders steers weighing 488kg lwt, which returned $3,000/head – both lots are destined for Gatton, Queensland.
PTIC heifer numbers remained relatively steady this week, at 2,873 head, as the clearance rate dropped slightly on last week, to 54%. Overall, the online market for PTIC heifers averaged $2,895/head, ranging from $1,800-$3,980/head. From Leongatha Victoria, a line of 30 Hereford PTIC heifers aged 25-27 months old and weighing 520kg lwt returned $2,800/head.
Except for PTIC cows, which averaged $34 lower on last week, at $3,085/head, the offering of proven breeders was again very tight. From Bungunya Queensland, a line of 49 5–9-year-old Angus/Santa Gertrudis cross cows with CAF returned $3,200/head. The cows averaged 538kg lwt, while the CAF aged 1-6 months averaged 146kg lwt.