Among larger lines offered last week, 120 Santa backgrounder steers 325kg at 10-16 months from Barcaldine, western Qld made 391c/kg or $1270

LISTINGS rose 12 percent on AuctionsPlus last week to 11,503 head, while clearance of the catalogue slipped to 58pc.

Heavy feeder steers +400kg cleared just 45pc of a small offering of 203 head, with prices falling 22c/kg to average 362c.

All but one of the ten young cattle weight categories retracted in price in c/kg terms – mostly in double-digits.

Lighter cattle, particularly heifers and young steers, experienced downward pressure, while breeding female results were mixed, with PTIC cows struggling while cows and calves saw improved demand.

An offering of 1174 steers 330-400kg produced an 80pc clearance, with prices easing 16c/kg to average 399c. Mid-weight steers 280-330kg produced an offering of 1270 head, clearing 73pc, with prices slipping 23c/kg to average 396c. A large offering of 2016 steers 200-280kg cleared 68pc, with prices down 43c to average 417c/kg.

From Adelong, NSW 54 Angus steers 4-5 months averaging 201kg returned 499c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Londonderry, NSW.

Among larger lines offered on Friday 120 Santa backgrounder steers 325kg at 10-16 months from Barcaldine, western Qld made 391c/kg or $1270, while 102 Grey Brahman backgrounder steers 293kg at 10-15 months from Winton, western Qld made 337c/kg. A line of 136 Ultrablack x Brangus backgrounder steers 260kg at 12-14 months from Clermont, central Qld made 392c/kg

Amongst the heifer listings, an offering of 1117 heifers 330-400kg cleared 55pc, with prices down 21c on the previous week to average 327c. From Tyrendarra, VIC 60 Angus x Friesian heifers 18-21 months averaging 487kg returned $1630/head, or 335c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Yea, VIC.

Breeding females

The breeding female categories showed mixed trends. PTIC heifers offered 782 head, clearing only 26pc, to average $1765, while PTIC cows offered a similar number, clearing 47pc, to average $1652, down $648 on the previous week

A small offering of station mated heifers with calves lifted $375 to average $2010, with a strong 95pc clearance.

Listing activity increased in all states this week bar New South Wales. However, NSW continues to maintain the greatest listing state, followed by Queensland. South Australia experienced the greatest change in listing behaviour, listing an additional 818 head week on week for a total of 1503 head offered.

Buying activity increased across all southern states (South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria). However, the usual dominant buying regions felt a softening in numbers with NSW and Victoria both back on last week’s numbers.

From Holbrook, VIC 26 Angus cows three years averaging 456kg returned $3070/head and will travel to a buyer near Bonnie Doon, VIC.

Source: AuctionsPlus