From Coonabarabran, NSW Northwest Slopes and Plains, these 55 Angus backgrounder steers 300kg at 12-13 months made 669c/kg or $2005 a head this morning

PRICE trends among young cattle were erratic in online trading this week, where Elders and Nutrien’s AuctionsPlus platform recovered somewhat from the previous week’s low (6700 head) to 10,476 head. The larger offering saw clearance ease to 88pc, down seven percentage points week on week.

Heavy feeder steers +400kg were a highlight, although only thinly traded with an offering of 300 head. The category lifted 68c/kg (partly breed-related) to average 622c/kg, clearing 68pc of the offering.

Steers 200-280kg also rose sharply, averaging 655c/kg, up 45c on the previous week, while clearing 95pc of the 1315 offered. The 280-330kg category eased 13c to average 616c, while also recording a strong clearance of 95pc for the 1290 offered.

A line of 89 Angus steers 11-12 months averaging 389kg from Narrabri, NSW, returned 607c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Chinchilla, QLD.

From Coonabarabran, NSW Northwest Slopes and Plains, 55 Angus backgrounder steers 300kg at 12-13 months made 669c/kg or $2005 a head.

Heifer prices strengthened across most categories. The 200-280kg bracket averaged 580c/kg, up 31c, while 280-330kg heifers jumped 65c to 568c/kg. Heifers in the 330-400kg range eased 9c to 530c/kg but maintained strong clearance at 94pc.

From Inverell, NSW, 92 Angus heifers 11-13 months averaging 363kg returned 595c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Mudgee, NSW.

Breeding females

Breeding female results were mixed. SM cows averaged $2526, up $676 week-on-week, with 100pc clearance. PTIC cows averaged $2231, up $41, though clearance dropped to 72pc. NSM cow and calf units averaged $3,169/pair, up $47, clearing 85pc.

Sharply down were NSM heifers and calves, which lost $746/pair on the previous week, while SM heifers and calves lost $399 to average $2661.

From Belgravia, NSW, a line of 27 Hereford PTIC cows 3-5 years averaging 639kg returned $2530 and will travel to a buyer near Wellington, NSW.

NSW dominated supply this week with 5703 head offered, representing 54pc of the national yarding. Queensland contributed 3372 head (32pc), while Victoria and Tasmania accounted for 581 and 466 head respectively. Queensland recorded the strongest clearance rate at 94pc, followed by Tasmania 94pc and NSW 89pc.

Source; AuctionsPlus