The feeder heifer market was a highlight in the sale lifting by as much as 30c/kg compared to the previous sale’s cheaper market.

Numbers were back by 1600 for a yarding of 2700 with some people wondering if the large selloff due to the season may be coming to an end.

It was a mostly plain quality yarding with only odd pens of prime cattle throughout. Cows made up 50% of the yarding and there were good numbers of young cattle mostly lacking finish. There were good numbers of grown heifers in mostly store condition and there were very few grown steers yarded. Most of the regular buyers were in attendance and operating in a mostly solid market.

NLRS advises the few young cattle to the trade were 2c to 5c dearer with the prime steer vealers selling from 306c to 315c and the prime steer yearlings 265c to 307c while the heifer yearlings sold to 311c/kg.

Feeder steers were up to 14c cheaper with the plainer quality a factor while the feeder heifers in contrast were up to 30c/kg dearer. Feeder steers sold from 255c to 294c with the lighter weights averaging 276c while the feeder heifers sold from 229c to 282c to average 273c/kg.

Young restocker cattle were 30c dearer with the young steers selling from 220c for very plain crossbreds to 310c for good quality Angus calves. The young heifers to the restockers sold from 190c to 270c/kg.

The few grown steers were 10c cheaper with the absence of one major export processor. The prime medium weight grown steers sold from 238c to 250c to average 247c while the grown heifers which were 3c dearer sold from 234c to 249c/kg. Grown steers to the feeders sold from 200c to 280c/kg. Good numbers of grown heifers in store condition sold to the restockers from 150c to 180c/kg.

Plain condition cows were 2c cheaper to the processors and up to 20c cheaper to the restockers while the better finished cows to the processors were 8c to 10c/kg dearer. 2 score cows to the processors sold from 40c to 150c while the restockers paid from 30c to 120c for plain conditioned cows. The better 3 and 4 score cows to the processors sold from 145c to 216c with the prime heavy weights averaging 203c/kg.

Bulls were 8c cheaper with the better finished heavy weights selling from 191c to 236c while the young bulls to the restockers sold from 165c to 223c/kg.

Source: NLRS, David Monk 

To view the full NLRS report for the CTLX April 24 sale click here