Reduced numbers at NVLX Wodonga helped fuel prices over trade and export categories. Agents penned 1230 prime cattle and 600 cows.

Heavy grown steers 500-600kg posted sizable gains of 8c with the pressure of tightening numbers being felt widely. The better finished heavy steers made from 330-361.2c/kg. Bullock quality was only fair and prices were generally unchanged to average 329c/kg.

Well finished trade cattle attracted premium prices from domestic processors with a major supermarket the market driver over all lines of well finished heavy trade. The best price recorded was for a single pen of supplementary fed steers weighing approximately 470kg which made 365.2c/kg. This meant the better finished steers sold from 330-361c to average 348c/kg. Plainer conditioned steer values fluctuated with the bulk of those selling to manufacturing.

Due to the limited supplies of trade steers, buyers shifted their focus to the heifer portion which helped lift prices 10-20c on last week’s dearer market. Medium weight heifers 400-500kg made from 305-353c to average 341c/kg. There was also increased numbers of supplementary fed lightweight heifers and they sold from 330-350c/kg.

Vealers were in short supply and prices were unchanged to 13c dearer for the tops of the heifer portion. The best of the veal made from 328-365c/kg.

Feedlot demand combined with buying strength from domestic processors helped achieve some excellent results for well-bred secondary steers 280-330kg. The better bred steers lifted 13c and made from 315-334c/kg. Medium weight feeder steers remained firm topping at 345c to average 328c/kg.

The greatest demand for well-bred secondary heifers came from Thomas food International along with local feedlot inquiry. Feeder heifers consistently made from 290-316c to average 313c/kg.

Restocker confidence was high after soaking rains over the weekend. Well-bred lines 280-320kg made from 312c-329.2c to average 321c or $977/head. Off the top pens made from 274c-300c/kg to average 291.5c/kg or $890.

A mixed quality line up of 600 cows and 36 Bulls sold to much stronger demand, marking a general price rise of 16- 23c/kg. Heavy well finished lines commanded premium prices, with major processors clashing to fill orders. Heavy cows topped at 304.2c to average 291.2c/kg. Leaner grades sold to red hot competition as all buyers scrambled for a market share. The better lean hard cows sold from 260-288c while plainer types averaged 266.9c/kg.

The bull market shifted gears gaining 23c with the better shaped heavy bulls making from 255-296c/kg.