Part of a line of 50 Angus and Angus cross steers 12-13 months averaging 466kg from Heywood, Victoria that returned $1860/head, or 399c/kg earlier today

Most young steer and heifer categories showed some price improvement this week on Elders and Nutrien’s AuctionsPlus online marketing platform, after a couple of weeks of falls.

The catalogue lifted 3 percent to 11,804 head, but clearance dropped to 63pc, reflecting softer buyer sentiment. Cyclone Alfred likely played a key role in unsettling key buying regions.

Listings in all states were up this week, except for NSW and Tasmania. Purchasing behaviour has decreased into Queensland, a reduction of 1815 head from last week. NSW remained the busiest listing and purchasing state.

Among steers, the combined five weight ranges achieved 73pc clearance.

The 280-330kg category performed well, registering a larger offering of 2543 head and averaged 405c/kg, up 10c on last week, producing a clearance of 81pc clearance. Prices ranged from 320c to 447c/kg.

Losing ground were steers 330-400kg, which dropped 14c/kg to average383c/kg, with the offering of 1320 head clearing 73pc.

Heavier feeder weight steers +400kg offered 442 head, clearing 97pc. Prices ranged from 324-410c and averaged 375c, up 13c on last week.

Fifty Angus and Angus cross steers 12-13 months averaging 466kg from Heywood, Victoria returned $1860/head, or 399c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Murray Bridge, South Australia.

Among young females, the largest offering was for heifers 330-400kg, where 1169 were put forward for competition, clearing 66pc. Prices ranged from 279-367c, averaging 335c, up 9c on last week.

Heifers 200-280kg saw an offering of 948 head, clearing only 25pc, with prices averaging 345c, up 13c on last week.  Those in the 280-330kg bracket saw an offering of 729 head for a 73pc clearance. Prices ranged from 266-373c and averaged 334c, down 2c on last week.

A small offering of 234 heifers +400kg averaged 346c/kg, up 2c on last week, producing an 85pc clearance. Prices ranged from 325 – 362c and averaged lwt. From Portland, Victoria, 54 Angus x Friesian heifers 18-20 months averaging 476kg returned $1550 or 325c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Buninyong, Victoria.

Breeding females

Among breeding female listings, the standout performers were PTIC cows, registering a larger offering of 957 head for an average of $2199/head, lifting $600 from last week for an 81pc clearance.

Station-mated cows and calves struggled, clearing only 31pc of an offering of 941 units, down an average $201/pair to average $1692.

From Barraba, NSW, 28 Charolais x Shorthorn cows aged four to six years averaging 685kg returned $2600 and will travel to a buyer near Warwick, Queensland.

Source: AuctionsPlus