Among larger heifer offerings sold on Friday, these 126 Angus heifers 327kg at 12-15 months from Millmerran southern QLD made $1100 or 336c/kg.

BOTH offering size and clearance rate increased substantially in AuctionsPlus’s second trading week for the year, completed on Friday.

Spurred on by rain and a lift in cattle markets generally, commercial cattle offerings almost doubled to 7905 head last week. Clearance boosted to 78pc from 52pc the week before, while average value over reserve lifted $42/head, to $148.

NSW again provided the biggest proportion of listings (2991 head), followed by Victoria (2073 head) and Queensland (1372).

Prices for most categories bar heavy feeder steers lifted.

Steers 330-400kg lifted 36c on average over the previous week, averaging 361c/kg, while light steers 200-280kg advanced 22c/kg to average 380c.

Prices per head for heavy steers +400kg fell 17c/kg, with an offering reduced by 90pc.

There was strong demand for heifers of all weight ranges, with an increase in numbers offered and a small decrease in clearance rate.

Heifers in the 330-400kg category lifted by 24c/kg on the previous week to average 296c, while light heifers 200-280kg jumped 45c/kg to average 309c.

Overall, there was an increase in both live weight prices and number of head offered in the steer categories this week compared to last week. Steers 330-400kg registered a larger offering of 770 head and averaged 361c/kg, for a 97pc clearance. Prices ranged from 274-436c. A line of 12 Angus x Hereford steers averaging 351kg from Armidale, NSW, sold for $1530, which was $350 above reserve.

Overall, there was an increase in both liveweight prices and number of head offered for heifers in most weight categories compared to last week. Heifers 280-330kg registered a larger offering of 655 head and averaged 308c, – up 35c from last week, for an 83pc clearance. Prices ranged from 250-336c.

A line of 36 Angus heifers averaging 310kg live from Lake Bathurst, NSW, sold for $960, which is $180 above reserve and will travel to a buyer in Wombat, NSW.

Among larger heifer offerings, 126 Angus heifers 327kg at 12-15 months from Millmerran southern QLD made $1100 or 336c/kg.

Breeding females

Breeding stock numbers offered jumped 40pc on the previous week. The average dollar per head value also saw a notable increase, with this week’s average of $1903 being $508 higher than last week.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 12 January.

Source: AuctionsPlus