With last weekend’s very welcomed rains and the forecast for a substantial follow up for this coming weekend numbers were back again for a yarding of 2450. It was a good quality yarding with a good selection of prime cattle in all sections with only a couple of western consignments which lacked quality. Not all of the regular buyers were in attendance with the absence of a couple of southern export processors.

MLA market information advises that young cattle to the trade were once again dearer with most categories selling at 12c/kg dearer rates. The steer vealers sold to 322c while the heifer vealers sold from 295c to 317c with the heavier weights over 330kg averaging 309c/kg. The prime steer yearlings sold from 312c to 326c with those over 400kg averaging 316c/kg. The properly finished heifer yearlings to slaughter sold from 295c to 314c/kg.

Young cattle to the feeders were 9c to 12c dearer with the feeder steers selling from 292c to 330c with the heavier weights over 400kg averaging 316c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 270c to 309c with the heavier weights here averaging 300c/kg.

Steer vealers to the restockers sold at similar rates to the previous sale while the young heifers going back to the paddock were 6c dearer. Young steers to the restockers sold from 274c to 336c with those weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaging 322c/kg. Heifer vealers to the restockers sold from 281c to 315c/kg. Steer yearlings to the restockers were also dearer and sold from 290c to 325c/kg.

The straight bred Angus bullocks were 6c dearer though most of the well finished bullocks were 8c cheaper. The properly finished medium and heavy weights sold from 270c to 309c with the prime bullocks weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 292c/kg. Export weight grown steers to feed sold from 265c to 319c/kg. The better selection of grown heifers were 3c to 7c dearer with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 230c to 302c with the heifers under 540kg averaging 283c/kg.

With the absence of some southern processors the cow market lost a little ground with most grades selling at 2c to 7c/kg cheaper rates. The 2 score cows to the processors sold from 150c to 175c while the restockers paid from 189c to 208c/kg. The better 3 and 4 score cows to the processors sold from 175c to 217c with the 4 score heavy weights averaging 212c/kg.

The bull market was also a little cheaper with the better muscled heavy weights selling from 200c to 251c to average 229c/kg. Lightweight bulls to the restockers sold from 190c to 288c while the backgrounders for the live export trade paid from 285c to 310c/kg.