Part of a run of 549 head from Barrhead Pty Ltd, Gladstone, Tasmania offered on AuctionsPlus this week. The tops of both the steers & heifers returned top prices in their respective categories, with 12-month-oold 271kg steers returning 259c and 289kg heifers of the same drop returning 298c.

MOST young cattle categories recorded small declines in price on AuctionsPlus this week – the exception being light heifers less than 200kg, which lifted 18c/kg on average.

This week some key growing regions along the eastern seaboard saw a flicker of reprieve from the drought, receiving their first drops of rain in an extended period. The top purchasing region, Southern Queensland, saw this as a buying opportunity to finish the volumes of store cattle available online, collecting 1217 head or 20pc of all purchases – the majority of which were yearling and grown steers & heifers.

Cattle supply remained steady with a shade under 9000 head listed, while clearance remained firm averaging 73pc across all commercial sales.

Cow and calf units made up the majority offering in the weekly Eastern States Cattle Sale, comprising 85pc of the catalogue. Cows and calves sold from 755 to a top of $1920, averaging $1316, up $83 on last week. Top price was returned by a line of 57 Injemira blood NSM Poll Hereford heifers from Holbrook, NSW. These heifers were rising three years, with 57 June/July drop calves at foot.

Light steers less than 200kg sold from 258c to 314c this week, to average 296c, down 2c on last week. Top price was returned by 92 Angus cross steers 6-8 months averaging 145kg from Yetman, NSW, which will travel to Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Steers averaging 280-330kg sold from 240c to 335c, and averaged 305c, down 3c on last week. Making the top price was a line of 61 Angus & Angus x Hereford steers 12-13 months averaging 326kg from Highlands, VIC, which will travel to Geelong, VIC.

Heavier steers over 330kg sold from 194c to 341c to average 301c, down 3c on last week. Top price was returned by 94 Angus yearlings from Cooma, NSW, 11-12 months averaging 356kg.

A line of heavier Droughtmaster feeder steers 15-27 months averaging 419kg from Cunnamulla, QLD returned 260c or $1090, when bought by a QLD feedlot buyer.

Two lines of Droughtmaster feeder steers totalling 75 head, 15-27 months averaging 419kg from Cunnamulla, QLD returned 260c and 270c when bought by a QLD feedlot buyer.

Light heifers less than 200kg sold from 250c to 280c to average 266c, up 18c on last week. Top price was returned by 88 Angus & Angus x Hereford heifers from Uralla, NSW. Aged 12-13 months and averaging 178kg, these heifers will travel to Boggabri, NSW.

Heifers 200-280kg sold from 225c to 259c to average 238c, up 2c on last week. The top price was returned by a small line of Angus weaners aged 9-10 months averaging 216kg from Cooma, NSW.

Heifers heavier than 330kg sold from 215c to 294c, averaging 277c, firm on last week. Top price was returned by 68 Charolais cross feeder heifers from Merriwa, NSW, 13-15 months averaging 357kg, which will travel to Dingee, VIC.

The grassfed and antibiotic-free markets continue to attract buyer interest, as most of this week’s top prices were animals accredited under these schemes. Inclusive of this highlight run of 549 head from Barrhead Pty Ltd, Gladstone, Tasmania. The tops of both their steers & heifers returned top prices in their respective categories. Twelve month old 271kg steers returned 259c and the 289kg heifers of the same drop returned 298c.

Among larger lines sold this week:

• 88 Gelvieh x Santa backgrounder steers, EU-eligible, 10-13 mths, 235 kg, from Durong, QLD made 262c/$615; while their 115 heifer sisters, 223kg made 236c/$525
• 125 composite steers, 8-14 mths 239kg, from Lundavra QLD made 284c/$680
• 96 Charbray yearling steers, 10-14 mths averaging 305 kg, from Wyandra QLD made 262c/$800
• 124 Droughtmaster weaned heifers, 6-12 mths averaging 262kg, from Clermont QLD made $630
• 88 Angus NSM heifers, 18-26 mths averaging 395kg from Munni NSW made 269c/$1060
• 112 Angus x  Poll Hereford weaned steers, EU, 10-14 mths averaging 196kg, from Keith SA made $545; while 106 Angus x Poll Hereford mixed sex weaners, EU, 8-12 mths 150 kg, made $350.