Yarding 3424 Change +469

File pic of Dalrymple Saleyards. Image: Charters Towers Regional Co

In continued hot and humid conditions with isolated storms across the north, numbers lifted by 469 head for a yarding of 3424 cattle. Quality was variable, comprising of some good lines of prime grown steers, more than 1000 cows and over 300 bulls, along with smaller lines of younger cattle. All regular processors were in attendance and operating with one live exporter, regular feeders and opportunity restockers. Cattle were drawn from Normanton and Georgetown in the north, Julia Ck to the local and coastal areas.

Demand for young cattle was very strong for better quality types, while medium weights to feed and trade slipped 15c to 45c/kg. Most prime categories also eased on last week, with the exception of medium weights steers to the trade and the best heavyweight grown steers. Yearling steers to feed eased 25c, medium weight heifers fell 35c, bullocks firm to 15c lower, medium cows averaged 26c to 30c less.

Vealer steers returning to grass averaged 447c, similar heifers averaged 363c/kg, while heifers to processors averaged 360c to 382c/kg. Light yearling steers sold to 452c, those to restockers above 280kg sold from 358c to 430c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed made from 386c to 422c, medium trade steers sold to and averaged 412c/kg. Heavy yearling steers to the trade sold to 468c/kg. A large sample of medium weight yearling heifers to feed sold to 392c to average 354c to 383c, heifers to the trade averaged 369c/kg. Heifers above 400kg to the trade sold from 360c to 408c/kg.

Grown steers above 400kg to feed sold to 412c to average 408c, processor types averaged 419c/kg. Heavy grown steers above 500kg to processors averaged 432c to 439c, a large sample of 4 score heavyweight steers topped at 468c to averaged 462c/kg.

A small number of full mouthed bullocks to export slaughter topped at 474c to average 466c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows to processors made 240c to 384c, to average 309c and 3 score cows sold to 380c to average 350c to 370c/kg. Prime heavyweight cows topped at 412c, most from 350c to 384c/kg. Medium bulls to live export sold from 370c to 408c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors sold to 380c/kg.

A good number of mixed quality cows and calves sold from $1400 to $1,550 per unit.

Market Reporter: Mick Kingham

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