In a smaller yarding of 3,050 trade buyers had the greatest influence on the cattle market at Wagga.

Quality was variable as were the prices over some classes. The Labour Day public holiday in Victoria helped push trade prices higher.

Trade cattle benefited from increased competition and posted dearer rates, while secondary cattle prices varied according to quality and breeding. Trade steers lifted 10c making from 312-350c/kg. Plainer conditioned steers to slaughter sold at 295-310c/kg.

A shortage of well finished trade steers saw heifer prices spike throughout the market of up to 25c/kg. The better shaped heifers overall sold 3-5c dearer making from 280c to 346c/kg.

Vealers suitable for the trade were in short supply and quality slipped to the previous sale, with the better finished fresh vealers selling from 320c-350c/kg.

The feeder market continued to find some traction, with lighter weight feeders steers 330-340kg unchanged to 3c cheaper averaging 335c/kg. In contrast the medium weight steers managed a 5c rise selling from 295c-245c/kg. Feeder heifer competition waned slightly and prices slipped 2c for the lighter weight portion to average 317c/kg. Medium weight heifers to feed on sold 4c cheaper selling from 281c to 330c/kg.

Prices for heavy grown steers and bullocks topped at 322c, with younger well finished Angus steers helping to keep the bidding strong. The better finished pens made from 290-318c a dearer trend of 10c/kg.

A significant reduction in cow numbers caused a price lift of 3-5c/kg. Heavy beef cows sold from 222-246c/kg. Plainer cows made from 200-228c/kg.-186c/kg. There were numerous store orders and cows returning to the paddock fetched from 180-244c/kg