Among larger steer lines offered this week were these 197 Red Poll weaned steers 256kg at 7-9 months out of Tambo, Western Queensland, which made 456c/kg. Click on image for a larger view

There were substantial falls in both listing numbers and clearance rate in online trading on AuctionsPlus last week.

Cattle listings fell 17 percent to 12,723 head, while the clearance also declined 17pc to 62pc.

One of the factors may have been end of financial year tax considerations, one active cattle trader said.

Price trends on steers and heifers were mixed, with lighter lines faring better.

Clearance softened across all categories, with breeding stock particularly impacted, selling only 59pc of listings. Steers recorded an overall clearance of 81pc and heifers 79pc.

The market’s adjustment points to vendor expectations not fully aligning with current buying trends, despite some positive price movements.

Listings were mixed across the country. New South Wales listings fell by 38pc to 5142 head. Queensland led listings with 5169 head, an increase of 28pc from the previous week. Victoria saw a 33pc decline, listing 1565 head. On the purchasing side, NSW led the bidding, buying 3544 head, despite a 39pc decline in activity. Queensland held relatively steady with a 3pc decline, buying 2855 head. Victorian purchasing softened by 46pc to 820 head.

The steer market showed mixed results this week. Despite offering only 299 head, heavy feeders +400kg gained only1c to average 426c/kg or $1806, producing a 93pc clearance.

A large offering of almost 1800 steers 280-330kg cleared 81pc, losing 6c/kg to average 450c/kg.

The 330–400kg steers numbering 1100 cleared 85pc, gaining 9c to average 435c.

An offering of 128 Angus steers 9-11 months averaging 322kg from Mumbannar, SA, returned 504c/kg or $1620/head, and will travel to a buyer near Anakie, VIC.

Among larger steer lines offered this week, 197 Red Poll weaned steers 256kg at 7-9 months out of Tambo, Western Queensland made 456c/kg.

Further south, 195 Angus backgrounder fat score 2 steers 393kg at 10-13 months out of Morven, southern Qld made 455c/kg

While lighter heifer lines showed some c/kg price improvement this week, medium and heavier weights lost ground. A small offering of 365 heifers less than 200kg cleared only 60pc, averaging 480c/kg, while heifers 200-280kg yarded 1474 head, clearing 65pc, and lifting 42c/kg in price to average 413c.

Heifers 280-330kg produced an offering of almost 1100, clearing only 45pc, while declining 48c/kg in value to average 339c.

Producing  a better clearance of 78pc was the offering of 700 heifers 330-400kg, which lost 55c/kg in value to average 382c.

From Caramut, VIC, 113 Angus heifers 10-11 months averaging 274kg returned 474c/kg, and will travel to a buyer near Walcha, NSW.

Breeding females

The breeding female market presented a mixed picture, with some significant movements.

The biggest category offerings by far were PTIC heifer and PTIC cows, with around 1500 and 1100 respectively. The heifers cleared only 27pc, and the cows, 32pc. PTIC heifers lost $66 a head to average $1411, and the PTIC cows lost $87 to average $1636.

An offering of 586 station-mated cows cleared 73pc, losing %68 on last week to average $1811. While other bre3eder categories were too few in number to provide a reliable quote, an offering of 442 station-mated cows and calves cleared 43pc to average $1989, up $139 on the previous week.

A line of 28 Angus cows 3-5 years averaging 512kg from Rylstone, NSW, returned $2270/head and will travel to a buyer near Dubbo, NSW.

Source: AuctionsPlus