At wagga on Monday cattle numbers lifted to just over 4,200.

Young vealers and yearlings were pushed along by backgrounders and restockers, while slaughter cattle varied according to quality.

Restocker demand had the greatest influence on secondary vealers paying from 357-409c/kg. Understocked northern farmers and backgrounders paid to a top of 428c for light weaners, with other most sales averaging $1012c/kg.

Steers suitable to feed-on commanded premium prices and rates lifted 3c pushed along by Queensland and northern NSW feedlots. Buyers paid from 210-365c, with medium weight feeder steers averaging 340c/kg.

In the feeder heifer market buoyant competition jumped rates 4c, with northern feedlot demand creating the dearer trend. Well bed heifers to feed on regularly fetched 310-340c to average 331c/kg.

There were limited supplies of steers suitable for the trade which caused spirited bidding as buyers struggled to find numbers. Medium weight steers lifted 9c making from 326-340c/kg.

All domestic buyers shifted their attention to yearling heifers and prices were mostly unchanged, with Angus heifers 400-500kg experiencing the keenest competition. The better finished heifers to slaughter sold at 295-327c/kg.

Price trends were mixed in the export market, when heavy grown steers sold to fluctuating price trends, due to stronger feedlot demand. Domestic processors paid up to 3c more, with the young milk and two teeth steers selling from 305-330c/kg. A major export processors keenly contested Angus bullocks 600-700kg paying to a top price of 318c/kg. Overall prices for bullocks sold 10c higher to average 302c/kg.

Cow prices softened, with heavy cows selling 3c cheaper making from 235-252c/kg. Southern processors helped cement a floor in rates for leaner types. Leaner cows made from 214c-248c/kg.