Heavy rain drenched the supply area over the weekend however; this didn’t deter producers, with numbers similar to the previous sale. NVLX Wodonga reported a very good sale of just over 2,000 cattle.

Prices generally leapt ahead for some categories and were quoted up to 20c/kg dearer. While prices did improve some cattle were left behind. An example was aged bullocks where several buyers preferred to walk on.

The vealer selling season gained momentum, with both numbers and prices increasing. The best price recorded was 334c while the best of the heavy vealers averaged 317.6c/kg. Lighter weight veal was keenly sought and buyers paid up to 20c more for European calves and their crosses. Lighter weight vealers 290-330kg sold from 290-333c/kg.

Trade heifer prices were fuelled by stronger feedlot demand which resulted in a dearer trend of 10c/kg. Medium weight heifers 400-500kg made from 280-310c to average 291c/kg. It was more of the same for trade steers with a local feedlot buyer pushing prices 8c higher. The better finished steers 400-500kg consistently made above 290c/kg, with the best domestic slaughter steers making 300-320c to average 306c/kg.

Feedlot buyers were the market drivers across all categories of weaners and yearlings, with prices for light and medium weight steers lifting a further 5-11c/kg. The highlight of the feeder steer sale was heavy grown steers over 500kg making out to 312c a dearer trend of 21c/kg. Steers 400-500kg made from 290-315.6c, while plainer conditioned steers in the same weight range sold from 264-284c/kg.

The heifer feeder market shifted to a higher gear, fuelled by an extra order from Moree NSW. Light weight well-bred heifers 330-400kg jumped 17c fetching 268-302.2c/kg

Heavy grown steers and bullocks were in limited numbers and quality slipped to the previous sale. Buying was sporadic throughout the sale and, aged steers discounted heavily. Heavy steers were unchanged making from 270-312c, while bullocks sold 10c cheaper to average 285c/kg. The shortage of top quality heavy heifers over 500kg gave the market an edge with prices jumping 20c and more in places. The better shaped and younger heifers were paid the best rates making from 270-307.6c/kg.

In the cow market northern processor demand for slaughter cows continued to strengthen on the back of tight supplies. Heavy high yielding cows lifted 7c making from 245-278c/kg.   Leaner grades sold to very strong price trends to finish 12c/kg dearer. The better finished lean cows sold from 234-259c/kg. Heavy bulls topped at 300c/kg.