Part of a line of 260 Droughtmaster backgrounder steers 359kg at 13-21 months from Muttaburra QLD that made 357c/kg or $1280 today

LIGHTER steers and heifers lost ground, but medium and heavier weights improved in average value in online trading this week.

AuctionsPlus cattle listings fell by 10 percent to 16,743 head, which met with lower demand resulting in a slightly lower clearance rate and softer prices overall. The benchmark steer price fell 2pc while the online young cattle indicator experienced a 5pc fall.

Heavy steers in the 330-400kg and 400kg+ categories rose by 5c/kg and 9c/kg respectively. Clearance rates also remained almost unchanged for both weight classes.

From Tumbarumba, NSW 87 Angus steers 14-17 months averaging 397kg returned 366c/kg or $1450/head, and will travel to a buyer near Toowoomba, QLD.

Medium weight steers 280-330kg lifted marginally by 2c/kg averaging a neat 400c/kg, after attracting 1783 entries.

Light steers 200-280kg eased 20c/kg to average 409c.

Among larger steer lines sold this week:

• 260 Droughtmaster backgrounder steers 359kg at 13-21 months from Muttaburra QLD made 357c/kg or $1280
• 180 Charolais x Brahman backgrounder steers 12-15 months averaging 309kg sold in two lines for 391c and 397c/kg
• 153 Senepol composite weaned steers 7-12 months averaging 239kg made 372c/kg.

Heifers

Heifer offerings remained steady this week, as fewer head in lighter articles were offset by greater numbers of mid to heavier weights.

Heifers 400kg+ experienced a price increase of 9c/kg to average 313c, with clearance rate of 81pc, up from 46pc a week earlier.

A line of 63 Angus heifers 18-19 months averaging 447kg from Gunning, NSW returned $1500 or 335c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Chiltern, VIC.

Light heifers 200-280kg slipped 21c this week to average 284c/kg, while heifers 280-330kg eased 1c on last week to average 303c.

Heifers 330-400kg attracted 1474 entries, averaging 7c higher at 304c.

Breeding females

This week saw a large offering of PTIC cows, with 1725 head representing a 68pc increase from last week. The increased supply did not place downward pressure on prices, with the average rising by $279 to $1725/head. Clearance rose 12 percentage points from last week to 48pc.

A line of 30 Angus cows 3 years from Table Top VIC, returned $2520/head, bought by a buyer near Crookwell, NSW.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 1 March.

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Source: AuctionsPlus