Feeder steer prices were a highlight of the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange, Carcoar, NSW, selling at fully firm rates in what was otherwise a mostly cheaper market.

As the conditions remain dry the numbers keep rolling in with a yarding of 4340. It was a typical drought yarding with large numbers of cows a number of which were in very plain condition along with large numbers of calves. There were a few well finished pens of trade cattle and only limited numbers of grown steers. Most of the regular buyers were operating with the exception of a major export processor.

NLRS advises young cattle to the trade were around firm with steer vealers selling from 304c to 308c while the prime heifer vealers sold from 285c to 294c/kg. The few prime yearlings to the trade sold from 256c to 304c/kg.

The feeder steers were firm while the feeder heifers were 12c to 16c cheaper. The feeder steers sold from 248c to 304c with the heavy weights over 400kg averaging 295c and the steers weighing between 330kg and 400kg averaging 289c/kg.  The feeder heifers sold from 224c to 249c to average around 237c/kg.

Young cattle to the restockers were up to 25c cheaper with the young steers selling from 215c to 275c while the young heifers to the restockers sold from 205c to 230c/kg.

 The limited numbers of grown steers were 8c cheaper with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 240c to 266c with the medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 259c/kg. Grown heifers to the processors were 5c cheaper with the better types selling from 210c to 257c/kg. There were good numbers of grown heifers in store condition which had been pregnancy tested empty. They mostly sold to the restockers and looked affordable selling from 165c to 206c/kg.

 The better conditioned cows were 5c to 8c cheaper while the plain conditioned cows were up to 25c/kg cheaper and more in places. 2 score cows to the processors sold from 70c to 146c while the better 3 and 4 score cows sold from 135c to 209c with the prime heavy weights averaging 192c/kg. Large numbers of cows to the restockers were also considerably cheaper selling from 40c to 168c/kg.

Bulls were close to firm with the better muscled heavy weights selling from 210c to 252c/kg. The restockers paid from 120c to 238c for young bulls.

This coming Friday there will be 14,000 weaners at Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX), Carcoar commencing at 10.00am.

• To view the full NLRS report for the CTLX April 17 sale click here