Part of an offering of 380 Angus yearling steers offered in four lines averaging 358kg at 13-15 months from Barraba, NSW Slopes and Plains, that made 444c/kg or $1590 on Friday

MOST young cattle weight categories continued to improve in c/kg price on AuctionsPlus on Friday, where listings rose by ten percent to 10,278 head. Clearance rates reached 69pc, down 1pc on last week but considerably better than earlier in February, reflecting improved confidence in the market.

Restocker demand remained strong, with steers remaining a bright spot in the market, accounting for 40pc of this weeks offering.

Cattle listings increased across Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. New South Wales led the market with 5633 head, followed by Queensland with 3268. Buyer activity held steady from the previous week, with processors accounting for 3.8pc of purchases.

Biggest gains in c/kg terms were seen in the 330-400kg steer category, where 1657 head were offered, clearing 81pc. Prices lifted 56c/kg to average 421c/kg. This weight category is currently returning an average price $198 greater than this time last year, where the average price recorded was $1,295 (February, 24, 2024).

Steers 280-330kg also saw a solid rise, averaging 421c, up 26c, from an offering of 1412 head which cleared 90pc.

A small offering of 374 feeder weight steers +400kg gained another 6c to average 385c, following the broader industry trend, clearing 95pc.

A small offering of 546 200-280kg steers also strengthened, gaining 14c to average 465c, with clearance at 84pc.

A line of 95 Angus steers 13-15 months averaging 358kg from Barraba, NSW returned 444c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Armidale, NSW.

Heifer categories also showed some solid gains, on top of advances made a week earlier.

A small offering of 289 heavy heifers +400kg lifted 31c/kg to average 349c, clearing 88pc.

An offering of 851 heifers 330-400kg cleared 78pc, lifting 8c to average 349c, while 280-330kg heifers lost 1c to average 321c, with an offering of 661 head clearing 78pc. Lighter heifers 200-280kg produced an offering of 1237 head, clearing only 62pc to average 368c, up 24c.

From Allora, QLD, 12 Hereford heifers 16-18 months averaging 428kg returned $1890/head or 441c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Goonellabah, NSW.

Among larger lines offered this week, 211 Shorthorn and Shorthorn cross heifers 8-18 months out of Quilpie, western Qld, offered in two lines averaging 245kg and 306kg made 314c and 291c respectively, while 144 Droughtmaster weaned steers 291kg at 10-14 months from Clermont, Central Qld made 408c or $1190.

There were some large runs of cattle out of western Queensland centres like Cunnamulla, St George, Quilpie, Thargomindah, Eulo and Charleville this week, mostly in store to light store condition reflecting the tight season on the region.

Across the border, 380 Angus yearling steers offered in four lines averaging 358kg at 13-15 months from Barraba, NSW Slopes and plains, made 444c/kg or $1590

Breeding females

Results were mixed in breeding female offerings this week, with some sharp rises and falls seen.

Station-mated heifers lost $357 on average this week to average $1256, while station-mated cows and calves lost $360 to average $2057.

A big offering of 1027 PTIC heifers saw average prices rise $116 to $1768, but delivered a very poor clearance of only 19pc.

From Murga, NSW 43 Angus cows three years averaging 482kg returned $2705/head and will travel to a buyer near Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Source: AuctionsPlus