These 108 Droughtmaster feeder steers 375kg at 10-15 months from Bollon in southern Queensland made 423c/kg this morning

RED ink was seen across the board in steer and heifer categories this week on AuctionsPlus – mostly in double-digit falls in c/kg terms –  driven by ongoing dry conditions in many regions.

Cattle listings eased 10pc from last week to 22,598 head, however clearance continued to soften further to 49pc, down 24 percentage points on the previous week, with increased buyer resistance to vendor price expectations.

Steers again accounted for the largest share of listings and tracked lower across most weight categories.

Among larger categories, steers 200–280kg attracted 4865 head, managing to clear 57pc, but with a big price correction of 43c, to average 471c/kg.

An offering of 2590 steers 280–330kg cleared 45pc, with prices back 16c to average 480c, while steers 330-400kg catalogued 1357 head, clearing two third to average 472c, down 19c.

At the heavier end, +400kg steers offered only 276 head, clearing most of them to average 496c, down 21c.

Highlights included 45 Angus steers 7-9 month averaging 185kg from Holbrook, NSW returning 590c/kg, and travelling to a buyer near Wodonga, VIC.

Sixty four Angus steers 7-9 months averaging 258kg from Bringenbrong, NSW, returned 550c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Wodonga, VIC.

From Uralla, NSW, 114 Angus steers 7-8 months averaging 285kg returned 527c/kg and will travel to a buyer in Noosa Heads, QLD.

Heifer results were subdued, with softer competition evident across most weight ranges leading to a clearance of 47pc.

The biggest category was heifers 200-280kg where 3050 were offered, clearing 47pc, with prices down 19c to average 374c. Even bigger falls of 38c/kg were seen heifers 280-330kg, where almost 1600 were offered, clearing 50pc, and averaging 372c. Heifers 330-400kg dropped 9c to average 415c, but cleared only 36pc of the 1291 offered.

Among heifer offerings, 65 weaned Wagyu x Angus F1 heifers 233kg at 6-7 months from Beaudesert, southern Qld (pictured below) made 326c/kg, while their 81 steer herdmates  averaging 244kg made 373c/kg.

Breeding females

Breeding female clearance came in at 40pc, with mixed buyer engagement.

While overall demand remains cautious, the continued price range for breeding females highlights ongoing interest where quality and breeding credentials align with buyer requirements.

NSM heifers and calves fell an incredible $1528 on the previous week to average $2347, while an offering of 1317 station-mated cows cleared only 32pc, averaging $1540, down $293.

Source: AuctionsPlus