With harvest now in full swing numbers dropped to 3785 at Wagga.

Despite a good body of feed across some parts of the Riverina, producers offloaded both prime finished and store conditioned cattle unwilling to take a punt on a long dry summer.

The vealer sale was erratic and prices were affected by as much as 3c/kg however, fresh calves did attract the better competition. European veal and their crosses made from 330-367c/kg.

There were plenty of store orders in place and local restockers set the pace for the better quality lines. A pen of Angus steers weighing 205kg recorded the highest price of the day hitting 427c/kg. Steers 330-400kg regularly made from 338-371c to average 357c/kg or $1306/head.

The trade cattle market opened cheaper, with very few steers selling to the trade, the better covered 400-500kg made from 284c -330c/kg to sell 22c cheaper

The trend was similar for the heifer portion where prices dropped 9c/kg; it followed in line of cheaper trends at other selling centres. The main lines of 400-500kg heifers made from 255-330c to average 287c/kg.

Prices for feeder steers also slipped due in part to rising numbers being offered at all prime sales and store markets. The cheaper market encouraged increased feedlot competition from Queensland across the 400-500kg weight range, helping cement a floor in prices. This weight ranged firmed topping at 365c to average 330c/kg.

It was more of the same for feeder heifers due to weaker demand as the sale progressed. Feeder heifer’s 400-500kg made from 286-312c to average 299c/kg. Price corrections of about 11ckg were recorded for the lighter weights to average 329c/kg.

Heavy grown steer and bullocks sold 3-11c/kg cheaper due in part to plenty of cattle selling direct to abattoirs. The better finished pens of heavy grown steers 500-600kg made from 269-315c, while bullocks averaged 284c/kg. The cheaper export market motivated feedlots to purchase steers in this weight range. The general run of steers destined for feedlots made from 310-310c/kg.

A steady trend continued in the cow market according to National Livestock Data, where heavy well finished cows were unchanged averaging 240c/kg. Leaner grade were firm to 1c easier making from 222c- 238c/kg. Light weight store type cows returning to the paddock ranged from 215-224c/kg.