As the season remains dry numbers lifted by 1700 for a yarding of 5250.

Overall it was a plainer quality yarding with a large influence of far western cattle though there were still fair numbers of properly finished cattle in from local districts. Once again there were some large consignments from the Broken Hill district along with a consignment from the Menindee district which were in very plain condition.

MLAs market information shows young cattle to the trade were 11c to 14c cheaper with the steer vealers selling from 280c to 320c with those over 330kg averaging 300c/kg. The prime heifer vealers sold from 272c to 327c with the heavier weights averaging 305c/kg.  Prime steer yearlings sold from 285c to 320c with those weighing 330kg to 400kg averaging 314c/kg. The prime heifer yearlings in the same weight category sold to 299c and averaged 292c/kg. Interestingly there was solid support from a Melbourne based processor on the trade cattle and only limited support from local and Northern operators.

Young feeder cattle suffered a similar demise with most categories falling 6c to 10c/kg with the absence of two or three regular operators. The feeder steers sold from 267c to 325c with the better finished heavier weights over 400kg averaging 296c while the feeder heifers sold from 258c to 298c with the heavier weights there averaging 269c/kg.

Young steers to the restockers were once again cheaper falling by another 5c with the steer calves weighing 200kg to 280kg selling from 270c to 338c to average 310c/kg. The heifer calves in the same weight category going back to the paddock sold from 246c to 303c to average 285c/kg. The steer yearlings purchased by the restockers and backgrounders were up to 18c cheaper and sold from 265c to 312c/kg. Heifer yearlings to the restockers sold to 279c/kg.

Grown steers went against the trend with the good runs of properly finished bullocks selling at 4c/kg dearer rates with particularly solid support from Southern processors for the black steers weighing 500kg to 600kg. The properly finished steers in that weight category sold from 270c to 300c to average 292c/kg. The grown heifers were also a little dearer with the prime conditioned heifers over 540kg selling to 285c/kg.

Once again there were large numbers of cows yarded which failed to maintain their strong momentum. Most grades of cows were 15c to 20c cheaper with the plainer conditioned lighter weights easing as much as 26c/kg. 2 score cows to the processors sold from 155c to 193c while the restockers paid to 200c/kg for cows to fatten. The better 3 and 4 score cows to the processors sold from 172c to 228c with the large numbers of prime heavy weights averaging 216c/kg.

The bulls were around 9c cheaper with the better muscled heavy weights selling to 253c/kg.