As the dry weather continues numbers keep rising with a yarding of 7100 that number up by 1440.

It was a typical drought affected yarding with large numbers of cows with their young calves lacking finish along with good numbers of plain quality cattle from the far west.

There was however still a reasonable selection of well finished grown steers and heifers along with some properly finished trade cattle. The larger yarding was sourced from all districts with most experiencing the lack of feed and water due to the dry.

A number of growers are now dipping into their core breeders as they find the need to destock.

Not all the regular buyers were present with the absence of a number of restocker orders along with some northern feeder operators who did not attend.

NLRS advises young cattle to the trade were up to 14c cheaper with steer vealers selling from 288c to 301c while the heifer vealers sold from 260c to 292c/kg.  The prime yearlings sold from 270c to 290c/kg.

Feeder steers were 4c to 9c cheaper with the exception of the prime heavier weight steers which were firm. The feeder heifers were up to 19c/kg cheaper. The feeder steers sold from 270c to 310c with the heavier weights over 400kg averaging 296c while the lighter steers averaged 288c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 246c to 285c to average 264c/kg.

Competition for the young cattle to the restockers was greatly reduced resulting in a cheaper market by 20c to 25c/kg. Young steers to the restockers sold from 280c to 363c with calves weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaging 318c while the young heifers to the restockers sold from 245c to 300c/kg. The older steers to the restockers and backgrounders were 8c to 15c cheaper selling from 277c to 323c/kg.

Grown steers were 8c cheaper with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 250c to 280c with the medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 269c/kg. Grown steers to the feeders were close to firm selling from 250c to 297c/kg. Grown heifers finished around firm selling from 245c to 256c/kg.

Prime cows were 4c cheaper while the secondary cows were firm. 2 score cows to the processors sold from 144c to 181c while the better 3 and 4 score cows sold from 180c to 221c with the prime heavy weights averaging 211c/kg. Large numbers of cows to suit the restockers were firm to a little dearer with solid support from central tableland buyers. Cows to the restockers sold from 150c to 204c/kg.

The bull market was 6c cheaper which was quality related. The better heavy weight bulls sold from 230c to 260c while the young bulls to the restockers sold from 217c to 260c/kg.