Among larger steer lines offered this week, these 240 Droughtmaster weaned steers 220kg at 6-9 months from Julia Creek, Northwest Queensland made 678c/kg or $1495 a head.

THERE were further price rises in some steer and heifer categories on AuctionsPlus this week, while most breeding female categories trended down.

Cattle listings fell 16pc to 15,149 head, while clearance declined to 89pc, down 6 percentage points on last week.  Ninety eight percent of lots were bid on.

There were 7340 steers offered, clearing 91pc.

A small offering of 154 light steers less than 200kg cleared only 65pc, with prices falling dramatically by 101c/kg on last week – partly breed-related – to 696c.

Steers 200-280kg lifted 15c to average 703c/kg, clearing 98pc of the 1825 offered. The category’s average price was the highest seen since October 2022.

The 280-330kg steers rose 13c to 651c/kg clearing 91pc of the 1369 offered, while 330-400kg steers gained 14c to average 610c, with a clearance at 89pc

Feeder weight steers +400kg had the largest offering at 2097 head, clearing 90pc, while prices eased 1c to average 570c/kg.

From Eulo, QLD, 66 Santa steers 18-28 months averaging 578kg returned 524c/kg and will travel to a feedlot buyer near Kingsthorpe, QLD.

Among larger steer lines offered this week, 240 Droughtmaster weaned steers 220kg at 6-9 months from Julia Creek, Northwest Queensland made 678c/kg or $1495 a head. Further south, 197 Charolais x composite weaners 6-10 months made 704c for the steer portion averaging 238kg and 630c for the heifer portion averaging 217kg.

Across the border in northern NSW, 245 Angus backgrounder steers 14-16 months from Glen Innes made from 641c/kg for the heavier end averaging 367kg, to 669c for the lighter end 338kg.

Part of a line of 245 Angus backgrounder steers 14-16 months from Glen Innes sold on Friday, that made from 641c/kg for the heavier end averaging 367kg, to 669c for the lighter end 338kg.

Heifers saw 5535 head offered this week, clearing 90pc.

Biggest movers were a small offering (287 head) of heifers less than 200kg, which lifted 76c to average 615c/kg – in stark contrast with the equivalent steer category trend. Clearance was 94pc.

Heifers 200-280kg had the largest offering totalling 1628 head, firming 26c to 586c/kg, though clearance was only 85pc.

The 280-330kg heifers cleared 96pc of the 1187 offered, but shed 26c to average 522c/kg, while heifers 330-400kg lifted 8c to 532c on an 87pc clearance.

Feeder heifers +400kg gained 9c to average 517c and cleared 94pc of the offering of 837.

Twenty four Limousin heifers 10-12 months averaging 223kg from Tamworth, NSW, returned 605c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Dorrigo, NSW. From Bendemeer, NSW, 92 mixed sex Wagyu 14-18 months averaging 359kg returned 680c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Kyogle, NSW.

Breeding females

Breeding female offerings totalled 2093 head this week, with clearance at 74pc.

Some big declines in value were seen, although offerings were mostly modest in size.

Station-mated cows and calves cleared 71pc of the offering of 801 pairs, with prices down $99/pair to average $3366.

NSM cows and calves saw an offering of 647 pairs, clearing 78pc, with prices down $124 to $3064. A handful of PTIC cows averaged $2372, down $390 on last week.

Twenty four Angus station mated cows & calves four years from Fullerton, NSW, returned $4075/pair and will travel to a buyer near Goulburn, NSW.

New South Wales supplied the largest share of listings at 8420 head with clearance at 85pc. Queensland offered 5341 head and cleared at 95pc, while Victoria listed 952 head at a softer 76pc clearance.

Source: AuctionsPlus