From Woodhouse, Victoria, these 41 Hereford heifers 14-16 months averaging 364kg 308c/kg on Friday. A further 58 lighter sisters 307kg at 10-12 months made 355.2c or $1090.

MOST heavier steer and heifer categories as well as PTIC heifers continued to slide in an offering of 13,712 head on Elders’ and Nutrien’s online platform AuctionsPlus last week.

Value over reserve bounced back to $80, partly due to an increase in the number of PTIC heifers selling, while clearance rate fell sharply to 39 percent. Week-on-week price changes were mixed for most young cattle categories.

Decent rainfall across Queensland last week and NSW this week was not enough to inspire a rebound in demand. Producers will be carefully watching and waiting for a substantial autumn break in the coming weeks.

Light steers were the strongest categories this week, giving some indication that producers are looking for low-risk and high weight gain potential.

Steers 200-280kg lifted 19c/kg last week, averaging 473c/kg.

Listings of steers 280-330kg increased to 1837 head and averaged 421c/kg – down 12c/kg from the previous week for a 42pc clearance. From Chinchilla, Southern Queensland, 44 Angus steers 12-16 months averaging 294kg returned 422c/kg.

Steers 330-400kg drifted 16c/kg lower last week to 388c, while the heaviest category for steers +400kg improved 6c/kg on the previous week to average 354c.

Listings of heifers weighing 330-400kg lifted to 1284 head. The 57pc increase in listings pushed prices lower, averaging 350c/kg or 32c/kg lower for a 47pc clearance rate. From Woodhouse, Victoria, 41 Hereford heifers 14-16 months averaging 364kg 308c/kg. A further 58 lighter sisters 307kg at 10-12 months made 355.2c or $1090.

Among larger lines this week:

• 112 Angus and Angus x Santa feeder steers 409kg at 12-15 months from Longreach, western Qld made 354.4c or $1450
• 240 Santa NSM heifers 323kg at 8-18 months from Blackall, western Qld made 390c/kg or $1260, and
• 168 Ultrablack NSM heifers 338kg at 23-36 months, also from Blackall, made 370c/kg or $1250.

Breeding females

Breeding lines experienced selective buying behaviour, leading to low clearances. PTIC heifer listings increased to 2193 head and averaged $1886/head – down $219 from last week for an 18pc clearance. From Gundagai, NSW, 43 Angus heifers PTIC to Angus bulls, aged 18-19 months and averaging 444kg returned $2030/head, $180 over the reserve.

PTIC cow listings dropped 24pc to 1233 head and averaged $1817 – up $125 on last week for a 60pc clearance. From Bollon, Western Queensland, three even lines of 50 Brahman PTIC cows 6-7 years averaging 514kg returned $1250/head.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 24 March.

Source: AuctionsPlus