This line of 111 Angus steers 6-8 months averaging 243kg from Holbrook, NSW, returned 536c/kg or $1300/head on Thursday and will travel to a buyer near  Toowoomba QLD.

LISTINGS in AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales fell to 4335 head this week due to the Easter-disrupted shorter week.

Accurate comparisons to last week’s market reports are near impossible and results should be considered in the context of low numbers. Stakeholders will have to wait until the weeks following the Easter break to see if the recent rebound in prices can be sustained.

In general terms, light steers this week fell in value, while heavier steers and all heifer categories lost ground, sometimes considerable.

The flow of available cattle to market after the long weekend will heavily influence the direction of prices from here.

Steers 200-280kg averaged 483c/kg, losing 11c across 498 head offered, for a 51pc clearance. From Holbrook, NSW, 111 Angus steers 6-8 months averaging 243kg returned the top price of $1300/head and will travel to a buyer near  Toowoomba, Queensland.

Steers 330-400kg averaged438c across 411 head for a 39pc clearance. From Willatook, Victoria, 79 Angus steers 11-12 months averaging 350kg returned $1560/head.

Heifers 200-280kg averaged $919 across 221 head for a 42pc clearance this week. From Bowral, NSW, 19 Angus heifers 6-7 months averaging 277kg returned 400c/kg or $1110.

Heifers 330-400kg averaged 281c/kg, down 78c/kg across 402 head for a 28pc clearance. From Tenterfield, NSW, 24 Charolais heifers 14-18 months averaging 332kg returned $1054, or 318c.

Breeding females

Among the breeding cattle sold this week, PTIC heifers averaged $1824 across 601 head for a 25pc clearance. From Armidale, NSW, 37 Santa PTIC heifers 18-23 months averaging 400kg returned $1680 and will travel to a buyer in Murarrie, Queensland.

PTIC cows averaged $1594 across 558 head for a 37pc clearance rate. From Drillham, Queensland,  44 Hereford PTIC cows 2-9 years averaging 517kg returned $1550/head.

Prices as at 2pm Thursday, 6 April.

Source: AuctionsPlus