Young steers and heifers show some recovery in online trading

The value of most young steer and heifer categories increased in online trade this week.

Commercial cattle listings on AuctionsPlus fell to 10,869 head, with clearing increasing to 43 percent, a 12 percent increase from the previous week.

This week, the 200-280kg weight category for both steers and heifers did well, registering significant gains.

Positive indicators in export markets may indicate that the market has reached a new level of pricing equilibrium between supply and demand.

This week saw some encouraging signals in the steer categories. Three of the four categories experienced higher prices, aided by a decreased offering.

Steers 200-280kg saw 2327 head categorised, averaging 406c/kg or $1006/head - up $98 from last week for a 58pc clearance. Prices ranged from 195 to 512c. A line of 76 Shorthorn steers 10-11 months old weighing 272kg from Manilla, NSW, brought $990 or 365c/kg.

Listings of steers 330-400kg dropped to 625 head and averaged 344c or $1234, up $32 from the previous week for a 44pc clearing. Prices ranged from 297 to 384c/kg. Fifty-two Angus steers averaging 339kg from Londrigan, Victoria, brought $1280 or 378c/kg and will be shipped to a customer in South Australia.

Heifers

Despite a greater offering, results in the heifer categories were uneven this week. Medium to lighter heifers had significant price increases, but heavier heifers fell further.

Heifers weighing 200-280kg registered 1128 head and averaged 331c/kg or $790, up $42 from last week for a 61 percent clearance. The prices ranged from 242 to 372c. 22 Angus heifers 9-10 months old and weighing an average of 263kg were sold for $930 in Flaxley, South Australia.

Listings of 330-400kg heifers climbed by 51% to 297 head, averaging 258c/kg or $899 - a $240 decrease for a 19% clearance. The prices varied from 248 to 267c. 15 Limousin x Brahman cows average 345kg sold for $895 in Booubyjan, Southern Queensland.

Breeding Females

This week's breeding stock lines had mixed results. PTIC heifers and cows moved in opposing directions, although clearances were usually higher than last week, helped by a 21 percent lesser offering. PTIC heifers registered 1537 head and averaged $1264, a $200 decrease from the previous week for a 28 percent clearance. Three equal lines of 22 Angus PTIC heifers averaging 441kg from Armidale, NSW, brought in $1250.

PTIC cows registered 1230 head and averaged $1682, up $450 from the previous week for a 33 percent clearing. The higher average was aided by quality, breed, and location.

Two equal lines of 22 rising four-year-old Angus PTIC cows, married to Angus bulls and averaging 563kg, from Barongarook West, Victoria, fetched top prices of $2710 and $2540. Another line from the same vendor earned $2490 for Angus PTIC cows weighing an average of 536kg.

Prices as at 2pm Friday, 9 June.

(Credit: Beef Central )