MOST heifer prices and some heavier steers trended down in online cattle transactions on Friday, where AuctionsPlus offered 14,400 head, up 19 percent on the week before.

The exceptions were steers and heifers less than 200kg where only very light numbers were offered, with prices remaining in the green.

Breeding cattle trends were mixed, with larger-sized category offerings all trending down.

Clearance slipped badly to just 45pc, down 25 percentage points on the previous week, reflecting the jump in offering numbers and more selective purchasing.

Feeder weight steers +400kg lost 7c/kg over the previous week to average 499c, but cleared only 27pc of the offering of 1521 head.

Steers 330-400kg improved 17c to average 527c/kg, but clearance was disappointing at 33pc of the offering of 2270 head. Biggest steer losses were seen in the 280-330kg weight division, where the offering of 1008 head cleared 41pc, while losing 27c/kg in value to average 512c.

Lighter steers 200-280kg were little-changed, averaging 540c, and clearing 77pc of the 1200 offered. Baby steers less than 200kg managed to lift 26c to 599c/kg, clearing the small offering of only 122 head.

Among steer highlights, 110 Angus steers 4-5 months averaging 158kg from Warren NSW returned $950/head or 600c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Bathurst, NSW.

Thirty eight Angus steers 8-10 months averaging 331kg from Tamworth, NSW returned $1970 or 596c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Walcha, NSW.

A line of 95 Angus steers 10-11 months averaging 274kg from Willow Tree, NSW returned 564c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Goondiwindi, QLD.

Among the heifer offering, despite only a small; offering of 297 head, heifers less than 200kg managed to clear only 54pc, while prices lifted 85c/kg to average 447c.

All other heifer categories declined in average c/kg price. Heifers 200-280kg produced a yarding of 1145 head, clearing 68pc, while prices eased 33c/kg to average 443c. Heifers 330-400kg lost 22c to average 435c, clearing only 41pc of the offering of 1053 head, while feeder weight heifers +400kg lost 5c to average 440c, clearing 83pc of the 512 offered.

Among larger lines of young cattle sold this week were 116 Hereford and Hereford cross backgrounder steers 246kg at 8-18 months from Mitchell Qld, sold for 487c/kg and 98 Angus backgrounder heifers 260kg at 10-12 months from The Gums, Southern Qld making 450c/kg.

An offering of 112 Wagyu x Angus backgrounder heifers 369kg at 15-17 months from Willow Tree NSW was passed in for 438c. There were 13 Wagyu-influenced lots in Friday’s weaner and yearling sale totalling 261 head – mostly feeder and backgrounder steers and heifers – with none finding a buyer.

Breeding cattle

Breeding cattle trends were mixed, with the largest category – PTIC heifers, offering 1736 head – cleared only 18pc, with prices down $262 to average $2292. PTIC cows also struggled to find buyers, with the offering of 887 clearing 43pc, with prices down $206 on the previous week to $2205.

Station-mated cows and calves offered 709 pairs, clearing 36pc, with prices down $162 to average $2430.

All other categories offered less than 250 head.

Source: AuctionsPlus