A line of 114 Droughtmaster cross steers out of Richmond, North QLD averaging 250kg sold for $ 615/head or 246c/kg on-farm, while their heavier 332kg brothers pictured here brought $725/head or 219c/kg.

YOUNGER steer categories and most heifers trended down in value on AuctionsPlus this week.

Numbers offered rose 13 percent on the previous week to 6957 head, with listings again dominated by the Weaner and Yearling sale, where almost 5000 head were offered.

Outstanding clearance rates were seen on Queensland weaner steers, with 85pc of the offering finding buyers. A similar trend was seen in Tasmania with 80pc clearance across the weaner steer portion.

A limited offering of joined cattle was seen this week. A highlight out of Ballandean, Southern QLD, was a line of 20 Angus PTIC heifers that sold for $920 on-farm.

Cow and calf units were offered out of QLD, NSW and VIC, with 474 head catalogued, averaging $1188/head, $10 back on the previous week.

A line of 40 Angus cross heifers and calves out of Blackall, QLD was sold for an outstanding price of $1250. The top price this week went to a line of Poll Hereford cows out of Tamworth, NSW, which brought $1570.

This line of 40 Angus cross heifers and calves out of Blackall, QLD made $1250.

To further underline the current value of cow and calf units, a small lot of nine Charolais cows, 3-5 years old out of Willaura, VIC was sold for $1250.

The lighter end of steers on offer had plenty of value this week, with 1340 head offered. Weaner steers averaged 277c/kg, with a line of 114 Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster cross steers out of Richmond, North QLD averaged 250kg selling for $615/head or 246c/kg on-farm. Their older heavier 332kg brothers also achieved top dollar fetching $725/head or 219c/kg.

Another notable line of Angus/Friesian steers 352kg at 12-17 months of age from Blumont, TAS, brought $1040 or 295c/kg live. A line of heavy feeder steers 15-19 months averaging 428kg out of The Branch, NSW, made $1110 or 335c/kg on farm.

Unjoined heifer prices eased this week with weaner heifers averaging 232c/kg and yearling heifers averaging 257c/kg. They also dominated the listing of weaners, with 1522 head offered.

Top price was received for a line of 25 Angus weaner heifers from Bugaldie, NSW, returning $800/head or 268c/kg.

Among larger lines of young cattle offered from drought affected areas this week,141 Angus NSM heifers, 11-12 months averaging 221kg from Quirindi NSW made 210c/$465; 91 Poll Hereford x Angus NSM heifers 11-12 months averaging 222kg, also from Quirindi made 212c/$470; 111 Angus weaned heifers, EU, 11-12 months averaging 234kg from Binnaway NSW made $600; 100 Angus weaned steers, 9-10 months averaging 211kg from Hay NSW made $580; and 117 Hereford weaned mixed sex calves, EU, 6-12 months averaging 188kg from Naracoorte SA made $435.

In a breakdown of young cattle sold this week, by weight range:

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 205c to 306c to average 264c; while heifers sold from 188-295c to average 224c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 274-322c to average 297c; while heifers sold from 240-289c to average 258c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 219-335c to average 282c; while heifers sold from 220-318c to average 263c
• Steers 350+kg sold from 260-295c to average 277c; while heifers sold for 279c.

Steer Highlights

15 to 19 month old, 427kg, Angus steers from THE BRANCH, NSW sold for 260c/$1110

10 to 12 month old, 301kg, Angus steers from COONABARABRAN, NSW sold for 335c/$1010

7 to 11 month old, 211kg, Charbray/Brahman X steers from ALPHA, QLD sold for 303c/$640

12 to 26 month old, 331kg, Droughtmaster steers from RICHMOND, QLD sold for 219c/$725

12 to 17 month old, 352kg, Angus/Friesian steers from BLUMONT, TAS sold for 296c/$1040

12 to 12 month old, 300kg, Angus/Friesian steers from BLUMONT, TAS sold for 260c/$780

Heifer Highlights

11 to 13 month old, 295kg, Angus heifers from WALCHA, NSW sold for 290c/$855

12 to 13 month old, 354kg, Angus Cross heifers from CONDOBOLIN, NSW sold for 280c/$990

10 to 13 month old, 322kg, Santa Gertrudis heifers from GUNNEDAH, NSW sold for 269c/$865

3 to 6 month old, 150kg, Angus/Hereford heifers from GOONDIWINDI, QLD sold for 250c/$375

12 to 12 month old, 326kg, Poll Shorthorn heifers from SUNNYSIDE, TAS sold for 319c/$1040

11 to 12 month old, 243kg, Poll Shorthorn heifers from SUNNYSIDE, TAS sold for 296c/$720

 Source: AuctionsPlus