Cattle numbers from Queensland totalled 14,910 head offered online on AuctionsPlus last week, down 7500 on the previous week. It appears coronavirus fears have led to an increase of online offerings, as physical saleyards have been required to enforce restrictions on who can attend the sales.
Southern Queensland has re-taken its top position as the biggest purchasing region, securing 3615 head.
There were 5204 head of steers offered last week, up 548 from the previous week's 4656 head.
Light steers under 200kg sold from 441c/kg to 566c to average 487c, up 10c. Steers 200-280kg sold between 295c and 553c to average 456c, down 21c. 78 backgrounder Angus steers, 210kg, seven to eight months old from Gunnedah NSW sold for 548c.
Heifers also had an increase in the number offered, jumping 1077 to total 3179 head. Light heifers under 200kg sold between 460c and 618c, averaging 476c, down 29c.
A line of Santa Gertrudis/Angus cross heifers, four to five months old, 128kg from Longreach sold for 428c.
Heifers 200-280kg averaged 378c, down 24c, with prices ranging from 336c to 435c.
Feeder heifers 330-400g were priced between 324c and 433c, averaging 369c, down 39c. From Tambo, a line of Hereford/Red Brangus feeder heifers, 12-18 months, 359kg made 372c.
Feeder steers 330-400kg sold between 305c to 448c to average 375c, down 35c.
SHEEP
Sheep and lamb number numbers from Queensland rose by 9000 head to see 12,584 head offered. Merino ewe lambs sold from $131 to $227, averaging $181, down $10.
Merino wether lambs averaged $147, selling from $100 to $194, up $3. From Padthaway, SA the top price was returned by a line of Watervalley blood lambs, Jun/Jul '19 drop, weighing 50kg, while from Bungyuna, a line of Aug/Sep '19 drop, Karbullah blood lambs weighing 26kg sold for $145.
Older Merino wethers sold from $125 to $175, averaging $155, up $8. From Longreach, a line of Karbullah and Well Gully three-year-old wethers weighing 52kg sold for $160.
