Strong support from the south on the grown steers and cows combined with solid support from the trade buyers and northern restockers resulted in a stronger market for most sections in a much smaller yarding.

Numbers were back by 2500 for a yarding of 3940. It was another typical drought yarding with large numbers of young cattle mostly lacking finish along with good numbers of cows. There were odd pens of well finished grown steers and trade cattle mixed throughout the yarding. The bulk of the yarding was sourced from local districts with very minimal numbers coming in from the far west. Most of the regular buyers were in attendance with the exception of a northern feeder operator who was absent though there were an extra couple of restocker orders in place.

NLRS advises the properly finished young cattle to the trade were up to 25c dearer with steer vealers selling from 290c to 324c to average 304c while the prime heifer vealers sold from 275c to 312c to average 298c/kg. The prime steer yearlings sold from 280c to 308c to average 295c while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 255c to 295c/kg.

Feeder steers were 5c to 7c dearer while the feeder heifers finished firm to 3c cheaper. The feeder steers sold from 240c to 292c to average 280c while the feeder heifers sold from 210c to 265c with the medium and heavy weights averaging 248c/kg.

Once again a large percentage of the yarding was young cattle suitable for the restockers. The lightweight young steers to the restockers were 15c cheaper while the heavier weight calves were 15c/kg dearer. The young heifers to the restockers were 15c to 20c cheaper. The young steers to the restockers sold from 90c to 279c with the large number weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaging 259c while the young heifers going back to the paddock sold from 120c to 252c/kg.

Grown steers were 3c dearer with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 258c to 282c with the medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 276c/kg. Grown heifers were 8c dearer with the better types selling from 223c to 270c with the heavy weights averaging 231c/kg.

Plain conditioned cows to the processors were up to 20c dearer while the better finished cows were 10c/kg dearer. 1 and 2 score cows to the processors sold from 90c to 169 while the better 3 and 4 scores sold from 142c to 209c with the prime heavy weights averaging 197c compared to a 186c/kg average in the previous sale. Cows to the restockers were also dearer selling from 40c to 148c with the cows over 400kg averaging 120c/kg.

Bulls were close to firm with the better heavy weights selling from 204c to 230c/kg. Small numbers of bulls to the restockers sold from 212c to 216c/kg.

To read full Dubbo NLRS report click here