The interruption to cattle markets due to Easter holiday break has made this trading week extremely short, which has impacted on cattle supplies in both Victoria and NSW. Wagga market had the greatest representation of numbers due to the extremely dry conditions, with agents penning 5080.

The tight supplies for both domestic and export processors this week strengthened prices at Wagga across trade and export categories with some of the better finished lines showing a substantial price rise.

A lift in demand and a shortfall in yearling steer numbers suitable for the trade helped push prices 9c higher. The better conditioned and finished steers commanded premium prices to reach a top price of 252c to average 240.8c/kg. The other positive trend was lighter weight grass finished heifers which jumped 11c and made from 210c to 234.2c/kg. Medium weight trade heifers were firm to 2c better averaging 224c/kg.

Vealers were in short supply making from 214c to 247c/kg cwt.

Prices were also strong for heavy grown steers and bullocks. Heavy grown steers 500-600kg topped at 244c to average 231.9c/kg. Bullocks were in short supply selling from 198c-238c/kg.

There were increased numbers of secondary light weight steers and heifers which sold to steady demand from a small field of restockers.

Well-bed lines attracted stronger competition and prices bounced 6c for the steer’s portion selling from 210c-242c/kg. Bidding was selective for the heifer portion and plainer lines dragged values back 11c ranging from 161c-225c/kg.

Secondary steers medium weight were well supplied and well-bred lines found plenty of demand from lot feeders to lift 6c/kg. The bulk of the well-bred lines made from 220c-240c/kg. There was less competition for feeder heifers which eased 3c-7c with the lighter weights averaging 209c/kg.

There were 1260 cows penned and prices strengthen under pressure from the short trading week. High yielding beef cows sold 2c higher making from 172c to !90c/kg. Meanwhile leaner grades were keenly sought by both export processors and store buyers which pushed prices up by 2c-3c, leaner grades sold from 152c-182c/kg. Store cows ranged from 150c-176c/kg.