This line of 260 Red Poll steers 7-10 months averaging 289kg from Tambo, Queensland returned $1040 or 359c/kg. Click on image for a larger view

MOST lighter and medium weight steer categories lost further ground in price, while heifers trended higher in online trading last week.

AuctionsPlus cattle listings edged higher to 8422 head, up two percent on the week before. The larger offering was met with subdued demand as clearance slipped to 56pc.

Young steers and heifers between 200kg and 400kg have been averaging about $1000/head for nine weeks now. The sentiment that a $1000 weaner is too cheap to pass-up may be contributing some support at this price level.

Steers 200-280kg registered a larger offering of 1454 head last week and averaged 352c/kg – down 24c/kg on the week before, for a 67pc clearance. Prices ranged from 110c (dairy types) to 453c.

A line of 81 Angus steers aged 11-13 months and averaging 272kg from Willow Tree, NSW returned $1010/head or 371c/kg, and will travel to a buyer near Goondiwindi, QLD.

Steers 280-330kg registered a smaller offering of 1419 head and averaged 356c – down 20c/kg from the previous week, for a 79pc clearance. Prices ranged from 281-395c. From Tambo, Queensland a line of 260 Red Poll steers 7-10 months averaging 289kg returned $1040 or 359c/kg.

Heifers

Heifers 200-280kg registered a larger offering of 1395 head and averaged 304c – up 19c/kg from last week for a 39pc clearance. Prices ranged from 206-437c. From Barongarook west, Victoria 105 Angus heifers 9-10 months averaging 275kg returned 437c/kg.

Heifers 280-330kg registered a larger offering of 858 head and averaged 330c/kg for a 68pc clearance. Prices ranged from 271-424c. Sixty Shorthorn heifers 9-11 months averaging 319kg from Durong, Queensland returned $970/head, or 304c/kg.

Breeding females

PTIC heifers registered a smaller offering of 646 head and averaged $1273/head – down $31 from last week for a 9pc clearance. This is the lowest clearance for PTIC heifers since the drought period in April 2019, however post-sale negotiations play a significant part in securing a sale for breeding lines and clearance is expected to lift to 40-50pc as it has done in previous weeks. A line of 23 Speckle Park x Angus heifers 40-46 months averaging 482kg from Dulacca, Queensland returned $1310/head and will travel to a buyer in Tamworth, NSW.

PTIC cows registered a larger offering of 435 head and averaged $1288 – up $31 from last week for a 54pc clearance. From Scone, NSW three lines totalling 66 Angus PTIC cows 5-7 years averaging 472–507kg averaged $1506, $256 over the reserve.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 21 July

Source: AuctionsPlus