Numbers were back by 1100 for a yarding of 5050.

Whilst there was a good representation of prime cattle in all sections the overall quality of the yarding was not to the standard of the previous sale, with a much larger representation in from the far west.

The feeling is that due to the cheaper market over the past fortnight combined with the abundance of feed, a number of local graziers are choosing to keep their cattle at home.

The yarding included consignments from Brewarrina, Coolabah, Cunnamulla, Walgett, Coonamble, Wanaaring, Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Bourke, Mudgee and local districts. Not all the regular buyers were operating in another cheaper market.

Steer yearlings to the trade were 5c cheaper while the vealers and heifer yearlings were firm to 3c /kg cheaper. Steer vealers sold from 370c to 378c to average 377c while the heifer vealers sold from 320c to 360c averaging 351c/kg. The prime steer yearlings sold from 316c to 355c with the heavier weights over 400kg averaging 340c/kg. The prime heifer yearlings sold from 265c to 355c to average 324c for the heavier weights and 335c/kg for the medium weights weighing between 330 and 400kgs.

Young feeder cattle were 12c cheaper and more in places with the exception of the prime heavier weight steers which were close to firm. Feeder steers sold from 289c to 383c with the large number of prime conditioned steers over 400kg averaging 355c/kg while the feeder heifers sold to a top of 363c with the heavier weights here averaging 318c/kg. The export weight feeder steers with 2 or more teeth sold from 274c to 367c/kg.

Young steers to the restockers were a little cheaper with the exception of a pen of very well bred Angus calves estimated to weight 135kgs which sold for 536c/kg. The balance of the steer vealers to the restockers sold from 360c to 442c with the calves weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaging 379c/kg. Young heifers going back to the paddock sold to 366c/kg.

Grown steers were 10c cheaper with the prime medium weights weighing 500kg to 600kg selling from 285c to 325c to average 313c/kg. Grown heifers were 13c cheaper with the prime heifers under 540kg selling from 270c to 313c to average 300c while the heavier weights sold to 295c/kg.

The few plainer conditioned cows were 13c cheaper while the better conditioned medium and heavy weight cows were 10c to 18c/kg cheaper. The 2 score cows sold from 180c to 212c while the better 3 and 4 scores sold from 210c to 257c with the 4 score heavy weights averaging 243c/kg.

The better muscled heavy weight bulls were 18c cheaper selling from 225c to 270c to average 256c/kg. Lighter weight yearling bulls less than 450kg to the restockers sold from 309c to 315c/kg.