Among larger steer lines offered on Friday, 146 Charbray weaned steers 321kg at 6-10 months from Middlemount, Central Qld made 451c/kg, while a line of 72 lighter brothers 251kg made 461c.

AuctionsPlus cattle listings declined 6 percent last week to 14,092 head, with clearance edging higher to 72 percent.

Interstate purchasing rose to 23pc of sales, up 3pc from the previous week.

The steer market showed some encouraging signs, particularly in the mediumweight categories, while heavy feeder weights lost considerable ground. Apart from a couple of categories with only insignificant numbers listed, the rest of the breeding female categories fell substantially in price.

Listings were mixed across the country, with NSW remaining on top with 6698 head, despite a drop of 801, or 11pc. Queensland lifted listings by 16pc to 5452, while Victoria fell to 1729.

On the purchasing side, QLD buyers secured 4997 head – up 22pc. NSW purchasing activity softened to 3591 head, while Victorian activity held steady from the previous week.

Steers 200-280kg attracted 2788 head last week, lifting 10c/kg to average 478c, with a 79pc clearance. Steers 280-330kg lifted 9c to average 436c, clearing 72pc of an offering of almost 2500.

Steers 330-400kg fielded an offering of 1665 head, clearing 89pc, with prices lifting 22c to average 437c. Feeder weight steers +400kg dropped sharply, down 51c/kg on average to 414c. The smaller offering of 623 head cleared 99pc.

From Armidale, NSW 91 Angus steers 9-11 months averaging 219kg returned $1200/head or 547c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Armidale, NSW.

Among larger steer lines offered last week, 146 Charbray weaned steers 321kg at 6-10 months from Middlemount, Central Qld made 451c/kg, while a line of 72 lighter brothers 251kg made 461c.

Further west, 205 Certified Organic Ultrablack steers 331kg at 9-24 months from Blackall, Western Qld made 459c/kg or $1520, and 145 Shorthorn and Shorthorn x Indicus backgrounder steers 320kg at 10-18 months made 384c.

Part of an offering of 205 Certified Organic Ultrablack steers 331kg at 9-24 months from Blackall, Western Qld that made 459c/kg or $1520 on Friday,

Heifer prices were mixed across weight ranges. Heifers 280-330kg gained 25c/kg to average 366c, with a clearance of 75pc of an offering of 777 head, while the 330-400kg category were unchanged at 415c/kg, but cleared only 26pc of a small offering of 160 head.

Lighter heifers 200-280kg lost ground, easing 8c/kg to average 370c, with the offering of 1715 clearing 69pc.

From Barongarook West, VIC 50 Angus heifers 8-9 months averaging 238kg returned 486c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Yarram, VIC.

Breeding females

The breeding female market produced some substantial price checks last week, especially in categories with significant numbers.

PTIC cows slumped $409 a head on the previous week, averaging $1290. The offering of 1111 head cleared 82pc. PTIC heifers also went backwards, dropping $268 a head to average $1642, but clearing only 27pc of an offering of 653 head. Station-mated cows also lost ground, easing $499 to average $1290, while station-mated heifers lost $290 to average $1430.

The only improvers in price were two small catalogue offerings – SM cows and calves (124 head) and SM heifers and calves (77 head). The cows lifted $152 to average $2061, while the heifers rose $23 to $2004.

From Guyra, NSW 17 Angus cows three years averaging 526kg returned $2250/head, or 428c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Graman, NSW.

Source: AuctionsPlus