Among larger lines sold on Friday, these 319 Angus backgrounder steers 13-17 months, ranging from 298kg to 350kg from Ilfracombe, western Queensland sold from 550c/kg at the lighter end to 516c for the heavier steers.

PRICE trends on young cattle were mixed in an offering of 13,161 head on AuctionsPlus on Friday – up 5pc in offering size on the week before.

Light steers and heifers were generally stronger in value, while some heavier categories lost ground. Breeding female categories saw some upwards price improvement, although again, results were patchy.

The sale clearance reached its highest level in more than a month at 77 percent.

Heavy feeder steers +400kg went against the recent broader price trend, lifting 47c/kg to average 490c/kg, while clearing 93pc of the offering of 971 head. Feeder weight heifers +400kg also improved, lifting 5c to average 452c, while clearing most of the small offering of 343 head.

Medium weight steers and heifers lost ground, with an offering of 1600 steers 280-330kg  clearing 78pc, with prices back 26c to average 493c. The equivalent weight heifer offering of 1100 head lost 13c to average 424c.

The biggest young cattle offerings came in the 330-400kg range, where 1780 steers cleared 85pc, but lost 39c/kg to average 464c, while the 1440 heifers offered cleared 75pc, losing 16c to average 429c.

Young cattle highlights included 36 Angus steers 7-8 months and averaging 218kg from Loch, VIC, returned 601c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Redan, VIC.

From Morven, QLD, 124 Ultrablack/Angus cross steers 7-10 months averaging 176kg returned 561c/kg and will travel to a buyer near Taroom, QLD.

Among larger lines offered last week, 298 Angus x Santa unweaned steers 5-10 months averaging 248kg and 258kg from Muttaburra, northwest Queensland made 440c/kg for the lighter line and 469c/kg, returning $1090 and $1210. A little further south, 319 Angus backgrounder steers 13-17 months, ranging from 298kg to 350kg from Ilfracombe, western Queensland sold from 550c/kg at the lighter end to 516c for the heavier steers.

Out of Talwood, southern Queensland, 219 Santa feeder heifers 16-20 months saw the lighter end 364kg make 434c/kg and the heavier end 378kg make 430c/kg.

Breeding females

NSM cows and calves weas by far the largest breeding female offering this week, with 1021 head offered, clearing 74pc, with pricesa down $155/kead on the previous week to average $2507. Other offerings were small in size, with 378 NSM heifers and calves clearing 82pc, with prices lifting $70 to average $2754.

A small offering of 224 PTIC cows saw prices lift $839/pair to average $2874, clearing 74pc. Similarly, an offering of 351 station-mated cows and calves gained $335/pair to average $2716, up $335.

From Sutton Forest, NSW, 64 Angus non-station mated heifers & calves two years averaging 462kg returned $3050/pair and will travel to a buyer near Yea, VIC.

Source: AuctionsPlus