Despite the continuing dry conditions numbers were back by 500 this week with a yarding of 3430.

There was still a good selection of prime conditioned cattle throughout though overall the quality was much plainer and lighter than previous sales with a number of cattle starting to show the effects of the dry conditions.

Consignments this week came from Mudgee, Baradine, Coonabarabran, White Cliffs, Brewarrina, Bourke, and local districts. Most of the regular buyers were operating including the return of a major feeder order.

MLA market information advises young cattle to the trade were 3c dearer with steer vealers selling from 300c to 347c with the prime calves over 330kg averaging 335c/kg. The prime heifer vealers to the trade sold from 290c to 340c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 285c to 328c with the heavy weights over 400kg averaging 305c/kg. The prime heifer yearlings sold from 270c to 334c to average 295c/kg.

With the extra competition created by the return of a buyer feeder steers were 6c to 12c dearer while the feeder heifers were firm to 2c/kg dearer. The feeder steers sold from 286c to 343c with the large number over 400kg averaging 317c while the feeder heifers sold from 257c to 314c to average 295c/kg.

With the seasonal conditions remaining dry in the bulk of the local area young steers to the restockers were a little cheaper however the better selection of young heifers suitable for the restockers were a little dearer. Young steers to the restocker sold from 306c to 381c while the restocker heifers sold from 242c to 358c/kg.

Grown steers finished dearer for the lighter weights and firm to a little cheaper for the heavier weights which was mainly due to the older age of the heavy weights. The prime medium weights weighing between 400kg and 500kg sold from 308c to 314c while the heavier weights over 500kg sold from 255c to 305c with the majority which weighed between 500kg and 600kg averaging 291c/kg. Grown heifers were 9c to 13c cheaper selling from 230c to 297c/kg.

Plain conditioned lightweight cows were up to 10c cheaper while the better finished cows were 1c to 5c dearer. 2 score cows sold from 150c to 195c to the processors to average 175c/kg. A single pen of Charolais cross cows in store condition sold to the restockers for 215c/kg. The better 3 and 4 score cows to the processors sold from 195c to 238c with the properly finished heavy weights averaging 227c/kg.

Bulls were 8c dearer mainly due to quality with the well-muscled heavy weights selling from 230c to 258c to average 248c/kg. The feeders paid from 268c to 280c for young bulls while the restockers paid to 260c/kg.