CATTLE numbers offered on AuctionsPlus dipped slightly this week to 6137 head. Unsurprisingly, numbers were again predominately drawn from New South Wales.

Young steer prices generally trended higher, while heifer categories tended to ease in price.

Across the sales, unjoined heifers made up 44 percent of the offerings, with an even spread of light calves through to backgrounder cattle with the odd line of feeder cattle.

There were a number of offerings of cows and calves from Texas, Queensland, Cassilis and Mangoplah, New South Wales; this week saw buyers spoilt for choice. A small line of unjoined Speckle Park cows with Angus cross and Speckle Park cross calves at foot from Teal Point, Victoria topped their section this week selling for $1620.

Commercial Dalkeith bred Poll Hereford cows with Poll Hereford calves at foot from Texas, Queensland also took buyer interest with the two and three year old mobs selling for $1340. Cows and calves sold from $900 to $1620 to average $1183.

The heavier end of steers offered this week were once again well sought-after. Steers above 350kg sold from 253c to 343c, averaging 311c. The top priced line of 351kg 12-14 month old Angus steers from Scottsdale, Tasmania made 343c, while a line of 90 13-14 month old Angus x Hereford cross steers, 365kg, from Walcha, NSW made 332c/$1210.

Highlights from the lighter end of the market included 253kg Angus steers from Bingara, NSW selling for 358c/$905 to a buyer in Moonie, Queensland, while 256kg Angus steers from Yass, NSW sold for 363c/$930 to a buyer in Tarrawarra, Victoria.

A line of 158kg Angus steers from Tingha, NSW sold for 352c/$555 to local buyer from Armidale.

Unjoined heifers prices were boosted with the offering of the commercial heifers as part of the Ben Nevis Angus bull sale, with the tops being 11-12 month old 317kg heifers selling to 308c/$975.

Weaner and Yearling sale heifer highlights included heifers under 250kg being topped by a line of 11-12 month old Angus heifers from Inverell, NSW selling for 282c/$705. This mob sold to a buyer from Eidsvold, Queensland.

A line of 240kg Poll Hereford heifers from Woomargama, NSW sold for 281c/$675.

Among larger lines, an offering of 160 Droughtmaster steers 6-9 months averaging 225kg sold for $620.

The southern market continued its strong path this week with a number of highlights from Tasmania. Weaned Angus heifers 262kg from Greens Beach sold to 324c/$850, while 319kg heifers from Selbourne sold to 320c/$1020, and 395kg Charolais x Angus heifers from Pipers River sold to 306c/$1210.

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

• Steers less than 250kg sold from 212c to 352c to average 297c; while heifers sold from 223-283c to average 251c
• Steers 250-300kg sold from 194-388c to average 311c; while heifers sold from 192-324c to average 241c
• Steers 300-350kg sold from 220-356c to average 294c; while heifers sold from 231-320c to average 281c
• Steers 350kg sold from 253-343c to average 311c; while heifers sold from 253-306c to average 284c

Steer highlights

6 to 9 month old, 225kg, Droughtmaster steers from JULIA CREEK, QLD sold for 276c/$620

8 to 9 month old, 256kg, Angus steers from YASS, NSW sold for 364/930

10 to 12 month old, 253kg, Angus steers from BINGARA, NSW sold for 359/905

10 to 11 month old, 291kg, Angus steers from GREENS BEACH, TAS sold for 389/1130

11 to 12 month old, 408kg, Charolais/Angus steers from PIPERS RIVER, TAS sold for 339/1380

13 to 14 month old, 365kg, Angus/Hereford steers from WALCHA, NSW sold for 332/1210

12 to 14 month old, 345kg, Hereford steers from CUMNOCK, NSW sold for 299/1030

Heifer highlights

9 to 12 month old, 332kg, Angus heifers from WANGARATTA, VIC sold for 277c/$920

10 to 11 month old, 262kg, Angus heifers from GREENS BEACH, TAS sold for 325/850

11 to 12 month old, 317kg, Angus heifers from WALCHA, NSW sold for 308/975

12 to 13 month old, 316kg, Hereford heifers from GUNDOWRING, VIC sold for 270/850

18 to 20 month old, 360kg, Shorthorn heifers from BUNGOWANNAH, NSW sold for 253/910

Source: AuctionsPlus