Among larger lines this week, this run of 140 weaned Angus heifers 268kg at 8-11 months from Goondiwindi, southern Queensland, made $800, or 299c/kg.

NUMBERS offered fell substantially for the final online sales of the 2023-24 financial year, decreasing by 26 percent on the previous week to 12,416 head.

Despite a tighter supply pool, heifer prices softened, while clearance improved slightly on the previous week to 56pc.

The weaner steer to heifer gap has widened further in the past week, with steers sold online outperforming their heifer counterparts by 17pc, which is 5pc above the one-month average of 12pc, although slightly below the yearly average of 18.84pc. Feeder steers are trailing weaner steers by 26c/kg.

Processor/lotfeeder activity was subdued last week, with 3.39pc of the sold offering being secured by processors or lotfeeders. Buyers were particularly interested in steers 280-330kg and 330-400kg, while some bidding action was seen across some cow categories.

Listings fell from all states, with the largest drops in SA, down 68pc to a thin 187 head, and Tasmania, where listings were down 47pc to 129 head offered. NSW was the source of the largest chunk of cattle, with the 6021 head down 28pc from last week.

Prices were stronger for most steer categories. Clearance rates were varied, mainly driven by supply, with the more heavily populated midweight steer categories seeing clearance range from 64pc to 77pc.

A small offering of weaner steers less than 200kg attracted good buyer interest, but lost 12c/kg on last week to average 429c.

Steers 200-280kg attracted 2148 entries, averaging 385c/kg, up 14c on last week, with a 69pc clearance.

Steers 280-330kg registered a smaller offering with 1377 head, down 39pc from last week, while prices lifted by 13c to average 382c, producing a 77pc clearance. From Guyra, NSW, 71 Angus steers 10-11 months averaging 311kg returned $1300/head, or 418c/kg, and will travel to a buyer near Tenterfield, NSW.

Steers 330-400kg rose 4c this week to average378c. Supply was much tighter this week, with 781 head offered, down 53pc from last week, and the category achieving a 64pc clearance. From Niangala, NSW, 40 Angus steers 10-11 months averaging 386kg returned 404c/kg, and will travel to a buyer in Southern Queensland.

Heifers

Heifer supply fell across all categories this week, especially for heifers less than 200kg, which registered a 59pc reduction in numbers. The smaller supply did little to lift competition, with prices falling for all categories on a $/head basis, and all but one on a c/kg basis. Clearance rates were varied, with a large spread from 14pc to 62pc across categories. Demand increased with weight, with the lightest categories experiencing the weakest competition and the heavier end of the market registering higher clearance rates.

Heifers 200-280kg was the only category to report a price rise this week, with the category averaging 285c/kg, increasing 2c on last week. Supply fell by 22pc to 1823 head, and competition was subdued with a 48pc clearance. From Glen Innes, NSW, 28 Angus heifers 7-9 months averaging 261kg returned 330c/kg, and will remain local.

Heifers 330-400kg registered a smaller offering of 317 head, with prices falling 9c to average 298c. Clearance for the category was the strongest across all heifer categories, with a 63pc clearance achieved. From Stony Creek, VIC, 25 Angus heifers 16-18 months averaging 387kg returned $1380, or 357c/kg.

Among larger lines this week, a run of 140 weaned Angus heifers 268kg at 8-11 months from Goondiwindi, southern Queensland, made $800, or 299c/kg.

Breeding females

Breeding stock categories mainly fell in value, with four categories falling and two rising. Clearances were very varied, ranging from a low of 7pc to a high of 96pc. PTIC heifers was one of the categories to report a price rise, with 612 head registering a $306 rise to average $1643. From Morven, NSW, 23 Angus heifers 22-23 months averaging 479kg returned $2100/head.

PTIC cows saw 795 head listed, falling an average of $166 a head on last week, to average $1394. An offering of 655 station-mated cows attracted little interest, clearing only 21pc and averaging $1102 less than last week at $1367.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 28 June.