Young steer prices on the rise to average $1803

For the young steer lines, all but the heaviest category increased for the week, with 400kg+ steers easing $37 on last week, to average $2,179/head.

Interestingly, the 330-400kg category had the largest offering for the week, at 1,706 head – a mantle usually held by the two lighter categories.

For the 1,706 head offered, prices increased $13 on the previous week, to $1,979/head, while the clearance rate came in at 67%.

An Indicative line of 77 Santa Gertrudis yearling steers, out of Hillston, NSW, ranging from 10-12 months of age, averaging 358.3kg sold to $1,950/head – equating to 1,082.7c/kg cwt.

The 200-280kg steers averaged $22 higher, at $1,580/head, while the 1,290 head offered for the 280-330kg category averaged $1,803/head.

The focus from buyers on lower weights had the two lightest steer categories register 88% and 91% clearance rates, while the heavier lines were back at 68% and 67%, respectively.

Young heifer prices were largely cheaper compared to last week, with the largest fall for 330-400kg lines, back $101, averaging $1,760/head – with a 90% clearance rate for the 802 head offered.

After a surge in numbers in the previous two weeks, light heifer numbers were back at normal winter levels, with just under 3,200 head offered between the 200-280kg and 280-330kg lines – with clearance rates well down on recent weeks at 76% and 52%, respectively.

With 1,599 head offered, the average PTIC heifer price declined $54 on last week, to $2,415/head – with a very subdued clearance rate of 58%. A combination of quality, buyer hesitancy and higher reserves all contributed to the lower clearance rate, which was also reflected in the PTIC cow section of the market.

An excellent line of 93 heavy Brahman PTIC heifers out of Ogmore, Central Queensland, sold to $2,500/head – averaging 454.7kg/head and between 20-30 months of age. Similarly, 39 Angus PTIC heifers from Tooraweenah, NSW, sold to $2,150/head – averaging 359.7kg liveweight and 15-16 months of age.