A BIG week is pencilled in for saleyards across the Eastern Seaboard after a strong fortnight for feeder cattle prices.

Wagga agents are currently working their way through 6290 head, Forbes is going through 2525 head and Tamworth at 4200 head. Roma has 9882 on the draw for tomorrow and Dubbo is coming off a record yarding of 10,000 head last week.

The big yarding is being sold into a strong feeder cattle market which has been rising for the past fortnight. Storms between 15-30mm have been consistently falling across large parts of Queensland and Northern New South Wales over the past month.

Paddock prices for 400kg+ flatback feeder steers on the Darling Downs were being quoted between 500-510c/kg – which is a 30c lift on the last feeder market update a fortnight ago.

Angus prices in the north were only slightly dearer at 510-530c/kg, also a 20-30c lift on the past fortnight.

Most feedlots on the Darling Downs are working two-to-three weeks in advance, trying to fill pens before the Christmas break.

Market dynamics changing in the south

Southern feedlot buyers who spoke to Beef Central this morning said they were mostly booked forward until Christmas and that they were limiting paddock quotes to either regular suppliers or space-only bookings.

One large multi-site lotfeeder had a grid price for Angus feeder steers at 510c/kg, however, that was withdrawn this morning. The same operator has bought some large numbers out of saleyards recently.

Beef Central was told the market for Angus feeder steers in the south is hovering between 510-520c/kg.

Another factor in the southern feeder market has been backgrounders competing with lotfeeders for heavier feeder cattle.

Lighter backgrounder steers have been making above 600c/kg at times, which has pushed some larger operators in Gippsland and Southern parts of South Australia to go for heavier feeders at 510-520c/kg and target a grassfed bullock market in Autumn next year.

Early saleyard prices firm-to-softer

Looking at the Meat & Livestock Australia saleyard reports this morning, heavy feeder steers have been either firm or cheaper than the past week.

Tamworth National Livestock Reporting Service reporter Peter Dundon said feeder steers and heifers were 20c/kg cheaper with feeder steers selling from 436c to 526c/kg and feeder heifers from 418c to 462c/kg.

Heavy feeder steers at Forbes were firm to 12c dearer than the last sale, with a run of 179 head averaging 476c/kg and another sample of 436 head averaging 502c/kg.

On AuctionsPlus, heavy feeders +400kg lifted another 11c/kg to average 513c, clearing 87pc of an offering of 1587. Most those were Angus feeders with 1264 averaging 519c/kg – which was up 12c.