Cattle numbers from Queensland on AuctionsPlus rose last week, on the back of a stronger market, with 2194 head offered. Numbers rose by 650 head on the previous week.
Buyer confidence lifted with clearance and prices improving across all sales, seeing a national clearance of 82 per cent, while Queensland saw a state clearance rate of 79pc.
Light restocker steers under 280kg continued to gather momentum and once again had strong activity online, making from 279c to 325c to average 308c, up 25c on the previous week. Light restocker heifers sold from 210c to 239c, to average 224c.
Highlights included 250kg Angus steers from Goondiwindi selling for 320c/$800; 201kg Charolais Cross steers from Toobeah making 325c/$653; and 230kg Charolais/Charbray heifers from Goondiwindi topping at 239c/$550.
Interstate buying was the real force for PTIC cows and heifers from Queensland last week. PTIC cows and heifers sold from $900 to $1360, to average $1144. Three to 12-year-old PTIC Santa cows from Winton drew bidding from Queensland and NSW but ultimately sold to a buyer from SA for $1360. Four to 11-year-old PTIC Charolais/Brahman cows from Boonah sold to a buyer from NSW for $1200.
Other Queensland highlights last week included three to 11-year-old Santa cows and calves from Winton selling for $1350, while to 10-year-old Limousin cross cows and calves from Texas made $1210.
SHEEP
Sheep and lamb numbers from Queensland rose last week with 4040, up 2750 on the previous week as processors looked to Queensland to supplement the low supply of killable sheep.
Merino wether hoggets 20kg dw from Ilfracombe drew bidding from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and SA, selling to an interstate buyer for 666c/kg dw.
Other Queensland highlights included three to five-year-old, 15.9kg dw Merino wethers from Karara making 855c/$136. Aug/Nov '18 drop mixed sex Droper lambs from Morven made $158, while three and four-year-old SIL Merino ewes from Thallon sold for $186.
