Among larger lines offered last week, these 240 Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster cross backgrounder heifers 244-251kg at 13-16 months from Springsure, Central Qld made 367c and 333c for the heavier of two pens.

Young steer and heifer categories moved downward in price last week on AuctionsPlus, despite a much smaller offering than the week before.

Cattle listings halved, with only 7867 head listed, down almost 7200 on the previous week. Despite the much smaller yarding, competition was mixed, producing an overall clearance of just 54 percent.

This week’s decline in numbers suggests producers may be holding back stock due to current market or climatic conditions, with regular volume listing regions experiencing some extreme weather conditions.

Interstate purchasing edged up one percentage point to 22pc this week, indicating some continued buyer competition. NSW purchased the volume of cattle offered with 2352 head bought, followed by QLD with 1103 head.

Apart from a single pen of 16 light steers less than 200kg that were offered, all other steer weight categories carrying more significant offerings fell by anywhere from 6c to 16c/kg. Clearance rates varied from 44pc of heavy steers +400kg to 88pc for lighter steers 200-280kg. The heavy feeders +400kg averaged 363c/kg last week, down 16c on the week before.

Steers 280-330kg attracted an offering of 904 head, clearing 63pc for an average of 399c, down 14c on the previous week.

A line of 75 Angus steers 6-7 months averaging 262kg from Roslyn, NSW returned 474c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Walcha, NSW.

From Darriman, VIC 50 Angus steers 14-15 months averaging 461kg returned 379c/kg or $1750/head, and will travel to a buyer near Campbell Town, TAS.

Heifers showed a similar tighter price trend, despite moderate numbers offered. Clearance rates among categories where significant numbers were offered ranged from 49pc for heifers 200-280kg, to 69pc for +400kg lines, which lost 10c/kg to average 330c. Light heifers 200-280kg offered 952 head, clearing 49pc to average 345c, down 6c on last week.

Breeding females

Breeding females delivered mixed results, with PTIC cows and PTIC heifers lifting by $338/head and $158 respectively, while NSM cows and calves increased by $294/pair to $1847.

Station-mated cows and calves saw an offering of 477 pairs, falling $304 to average $1801, while station-mated heifers and calves fell $54 to $2162.

Highlights included 52 Angus cows six years averaging 674kg from Woolsthorpe, NSW returned $2700/head and will travel to a buyer near Heywood, VIC.

Among larger lines offered last week, 240 Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster cross backgrounder heifers 244-251kg at 13-16 months from Springsure, Central Qld made 367c and 333c for the heavier of two pens.

There were no bids on an offering of 110 station-mated Hereford heifers 442kg at 502kg, offered in four lines, out of Ballyrogan, southwest Victoria.

Source: AuctionsPlus