This run of 80 Angus yearling heifers 353kg at 12-14 months from Merrriwa in the NSW Hunter made 461c/kg today, while a further 66 heavier sisters 413kg at 13-15 months made 450c/kg.

PRICES trended down for most steer, heifer and breeding female categories on AuctionsPlus this week, with another hefty offering of 18,059 head nationally – slightly larger than last week.

Eight of ten young cattle weight divisions were down in double digits, on a c/kg basis.

Overall clearance dropped to 67pc, down from 80pc last week.

A notable trend emerged across the southern states, where clearance declined the further south stock were listed. This pattern was prominent in the Southern Weaner & Yearling Sale (SA, VIC and NSW), which returned lower clearance than the second sale covering QLD and northern NSW.

With ideal feed conditions across much of the south-east, many producers may be comfortable to hold onto cattle and chase a target price rather than meet the current market.

Softer results were also recorded for heavier cattle categories, suggesting buyers were more selective in the upper weight ranges.

Queensland buyers were a standout feature of the week, securing 6264 head.

Within the steer offering, big price dips were seen in all but one category.

Steers 280-330kg offered 1827 head, clearing 68pc with prices dipping 24c/kg to average 588c, while steers 330-400kg lost 13c to average 518c, while clearing 72pc of the offering of close to 2000 head.

Heavy feeders +400kg produced a large yarding close to 2000 head, but clearly only 48pc, losing 10c/kg to average 502c. Moving against the broader trend  was steers 200-280kg, lifting 24c to average 593c, while clearing 82pc of the 1577 head offering.

From St George, QLD, a line of 84 Angus/Brahman Cross steers aged 7 to 9 months old and weighing 237kg returned $1,500/head, or 634c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Condamine, QLD.

In the heifer lineup, an offering of more than 2000 heifers 280-330kg cleared 66pc, with prices down 10c to average 455c, while 330-400kg heifers lost 13c to average 453c, clearing 69pc of the offering of 2500. Heavy heifers +400kg slipped 13c to average 453c, clearing 61pc of the 850 offered.

From Condobolin, NSW, a line of 84 Angus heifers aged 9 to 10 months old and weighing 263kg returned $1,610/head, or 611c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Hamilton, VIC.

A run of 80 Angus yearling heifers 353kg at 12-14 months from Merrriwa in the NSW Hunter made 461c/kg, while a further 66 heavier sisters 413kg at 13-15 months made 450c/kg.

Breeding females

The majority of categories went backwards in price this week.

PTIC heifers lost $234 to average $1826, with 593 offered, clearing 53pc, whole PTIC cows improved $138 to average $2571.

NSM cows and calves lost $288 to average $2395, while equivalent heifers and calves lost $194 averaging $2859. Almost 900 SM cows ans calves lifted $110 to average $2925, but cleared only 55pc.

From Wanganella, NSW, 23 Angus station mated heifers & calves 32-38 months averaging 500kg returned $3640/head and will travel to a buyer in Cudgee, VIC.

Source: AuctionsPlus