* A error in uploading this report meant it failed to appear on Tuesday as normal, so we are republishing the report one day late today – we apologise inconvenience caused to readers…

Despite many vendors snowed in after the Antarctic blast in the Monaro region, Wagga agent’s yesterday yarded 4600 cattle, 1130 more than the previous week.

Quality was very good with increased supplies of yearlings, bullocks, and cows either supplementary fed or crop finished. The well finished high yielding lines created dearer trends for trade steers and bullocks. The plainer conditioned cattle this week had been impacted by the recent severe wintry conditions. However this didn’t deter buyers with prices firm to a few cents dearer.

Agents offered excellent lines of quality bred steers, with the Angus portion paid premium prices. The strength of the major feedlot buyers was stronger, with the best pens of the lighter weight steers topping at 338.2c/kg. Feedlot buyers dominated the market for medium weight steers with the bulk of the steers to feed on selling 3c higher to average 321c/kg.

There were plenty of store orders in place and light weight steers 280-300kg sold 15c dearer making from 298 to 335.2c or $856 to $1029

Medium weight trade steers opened on a stronger note with a major supermarket dominating the top end. Trade steers sold 7c higher making from 310c-338c/kg.

The heifer sale set a cracking pace, which was hard for feedlot buyers to up the ante. Well-bred medium weight heifers to slaughter made from 286-325c/kg. Pens of light weight heifers 330-400kg sold from 275-325c to average 310.2/kg.

The feeder heifer market lacked the drive of previous sales, with some feedlot buyer’s fence sitting. Lighter weight feeder heifers eased 4c selling from 284-304c/kg.

Well-finished bullocks and grown steers 500-600kg gained 17-23c/kg, with southern processors battling it out for a market share. The better pens of younger steers and bullocks ranged from 305-336c/kg. The bulk of the grown steers averaged 315.7c while bullocks averaged 304.2c/kg.

Cow prices opened this week stronger, with a new abattoir entering the market for the first time at Wagga. The increased demand pushed prices 4-8c dearer, with plenty of sales over 500c/kg cwt. The best of the heavy cows made from 245-275c/kg. Prices varied for light and medium weight types, with many pens showing the effects of the wintery conditions. The better leaner types sold from 220-253c/kg.