Markets

NVLX Wodonga 19 Jan 2016: Heat triggers cattle influx

Leann Dax, 20/01/2016

Hot summer conditions and the interruption to the Wodonga sale next week due to the Australia day holiday caused an influx of numbers. Agents penned just over 3,000 cattle, 1,300 more than the previous sale.

Market prices dipped significantly, with export steers and yearling heifers hit hard. Cattle suitable for the domestic trade were also affected with price up to 18c/kg cheaper.

The lack of processor and feedlot demand rather than the bigger numbers seems to behind the latest correction, which was reflected in the cheaper trend of 22c/kg for bullocks. Good quality bullocks made from 260 to 282c to average 273c/kg. It was a similar story for heavy grown steers 500-600kg with processors unwilling to push over 290c, rates averaged 274.6c/kg.

Heifer trade prices melted under pressure of bigger numbers and subdued feedlot competition. The better finished heifers 400-500kg sold 18c cheaper selling from 260-309c to average 273c/kg. The cheaper feeder market caused erratic price trends for yearling steers to slaughter. The better finished steers firmed due to a few pens of supplementary fed steers which topped at 310c to lift the average to 290c/kg.

The trend was similar for secondary cattle, with prices back up to 39c/kg for heifers suitable to feed on. Feedlots paid an average of 271c for lighter weight heifers 330-400kg. Lighter weight secondary steers 330-400kg to feed on were affected by the mixed quality and the small contingent of buyersnot willing to pay above 317c/kg. Well-bred lines made from 274-316c while plainer bred pens and crossbred types sold down to 268c/kg.

There was increased numbers of plainer light weight store conditioned heifers however, with only limited competition, price were considerably lower selling at 228-255c/kg.

Prices dipped in a similar sized line up of 700 cows. There was increased buying competition from the north however, this had no effect on price trends with rates falling 10-16c/kg. Heavy cows made from 212-227 averaging 218c/kg. Leaner cows sold to fluctuating price trends, with light weight cows proving most difficult to sell. Light and medium framed lines sold from 181-221c/kg. Plainer types sold at 160-178c/kg

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