These 108 weaned Angus and Ultrablack steers 4-8 months averaging 296kg from Eromanga, far western QLD made 560c/kg or $1660 a head yesterday

HEIFER categories lost value in c/kg terms, while steers generally improved and breeding lines were mixed in a much larger offering of almost 18,000 head on AuctionsPlus yesterday.

The catalogue was up 39pc on the week before, with Queensland and New South Wales once again dominated supply, contributing more than 16,000 head. Clearance fell 10pc to 80pc on the back of increased volumes.

The NSW North West Slopes and Plains, Riverina, and Southern and Western Queensland each listing more than 2000 head. The increase in volume may be driven in part by drying conditions across regions such as the NSW Central West to Western NSW, where tightening feed availability, coupled with strong cattle prices, maybe prompting producers to move stock earlier.

Among the steer categories, heavy feeders +400kg lifted another 11c/kg to average 513c, clearing 87pc of an offering of 1587.

A very large offering of 2821 steers 330-400kg managed to clear 92pc, with prices lifting 11c to average 534c, reflecting firm demand for heavier feeder and backgrounding types.

Steers 280-330kg lifted 31c to average 585c, clearing almost all of the offering of 2200 head, while the only steer category to fall weas entries 200-280kg, which lost 33c to average 569c.

Steer highlights included 46 Angus steers 7-8 months averaging 264kg from Merriwa, NSW, making 683c/kg and travelling to a buyer near Nundle, NSW.

Forty one Angus steers 7-9 months averaging 250kg from Wallarobba, NSW, made 696c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Dorrigo, NSW, while a 40 Angus steers 14-15 months averaging 356kg from Dublin, SA, returned 589c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Murray Bridge, SA.

Among larger steer lines offered this week, 108 weaned Angus and Ultrablack steers 4-8 months averaging 296kg from Eromanga, far western QLD made 560c/kg or $1660 a head, while 121 Angus backgrounder steers 274kg at 12-14 months from Dorrigo, northern NSW made 660c/kg or $1810.

Most heifer categories saw small declines in value. A big offering of 2125 heifers 330-400kg cleared only 66pc, with prices down 6c to average 470c. Feeder weight heifers +400kg lost 12c to average 466c/kg, clearing 81pc of the 912 offered.

Lighter heifers 280-330kg lost 8c to average 479c, clearing 69pc of the 1569 head offering.

Breeding females

Among breeding females, an offering of just over 1000 PTIC heifers cleared only 32pc, but gained $266 a head among those that found buyers, averaging  $2668.

An offering of 726 NSM heifers cleared only 40pc, with prices declining $188 to average $2716. Station-mated cows and calves attracted 575 pairs, clearing 73pc, with prices back $134 to average $2828. Price improvements in some other breeding female categories were influenced by small offering size.

Source: AuctionsPlus