With almost a total week without rain combined with the very strong markets numbers almost doubled for a yarding of 2930.

Most of the cattle yarded were sourced from local districts along with two consignments from the Bourke district and one consignment from Broken Hill. There was also a couple of consignments from the Coonamble area. It was a good quality yarding with a good selection of prime cattle in all sections along with good numbers of young cattle to suit the feeders and restockers.

All the regular buyers plus an additional northern feeder order competed in a very solid market. Despite the processors and feeder operators stating they are not making any profits on their products the market continues to get dearer with new record prices set in some categories.

Young cattle to the trade were up to 10c dearer with steer vealers selling from 365c to 370c/kg. The prime heifer vealers sold from 357c to 368c with the heavier weights over 330kg averaging 363c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 335c to 381c with heavier weights over 400kg averaging 364c/kg. The prime heifer yearlings sold from 320c to 382c with the heavier weights averaging 349c/kg.

Feeder steers and heifers were 15c to 20c/kg dearer with the straight bred Angus calves enjoying the best of the gains. The feeder steers sold from 341c to 405c which is a new record price for the category in Dubbo. The good numbers of heavy weight feeder steers over 400kg averaged 389c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 311c to 380c/kg which is also a new record price for this category.

Following the tremendous turn around in the seasonal conditions young steers to the restockers were up to 24c dearer with the calves weighing 200kg to 280kg selling from 386c to 420c to average 404c/kg. The young heifers in the same weight category sold from 351c to 362c/kg.

Once again there was a pretty good selection of grown steers in prime condition a number of which had been grain assisted. The grown steers yarded sold at firm rates with the prime medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg selling from 320c to 364c to average345c/kg. Grown heifers sold from 310 to 349c/kg.

Plain conditioned cows were 2c to 5c cheaper with the 2 scores selling from 188c to 234c/kg. The good numbers of properly finished cows were 7c dearer with the medium and heavy weight 3 and 4 scores selling from 228c to 283c/kg which is a record price for cows in Dubbo. The 4 score heavy weight cows over 520kg averaged 274c/kg.

Bulls sold at similar rates to the previous sale with the better muscled heavy weights selling from 220c to 288c/kg. There were good numbers of lightweight bulls suitable for the restockers which sold from 293c to 362c/kg.