Yarding 4935 Change -1015

Producers dig deeper into their breeders selling large numbers of younger cows as they search for stock to offload due to the ongoing drought.

Numbers were back by 1000 for a yarding of 4935.

Once again there were large numbers of cows as growers dip into their younger breeders along with large numbers of young cattle. Prime grown steers and heifers were in very limited supply though there were some large consignments of grown steers presenting in store condition.

There were also large numbers of young cattle suitable for the feeders and processors though the feeder quality was back. Most of the cattle were sourced from local districts with not the numbers of far western cattle compared to the previous sales. Not all the regular buyers were present with the absence of both feeder and processor buyers and the restocker buyers for the young cattle were scarce.

NLRS reports the young cattle to the trade were 4c to 8c cheaper with the prime steer yearlings selling from 220c to 271c while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 179c to 254c/kg.

The feeder steers and heavier feeder heifers were 8c to 10c cheaper while the light weight feeder heifers were up to 25c/kg cheaper. The feeder steers sold from 180c to 270c with the lightweights averaging 221c while the medium and heavy weights averaged 239c and 253c with the averages rising as the cattle increase in weight. The feeder heifers sold from 110c to 240c with the lightweights weighing between 280kg and 330kg averaging just 180c/kg. The medium and heavy weights were a little better with the medium weights averaging 206c and the heavy weights 220c/kg.

Young cattle to the restockers were 30c to 50c cheaper and more in places with some of the plainer young cattle struggling to attract interest. The young steers to the restockers sold from 86c to 260c with the lightweight calves less than 200kg averaging 164c/kg. The young restocker heifers sold from 50c to 178c with the lightweights here averaging just 127c/kg.

There were too few grown steers to the processors to quote. The good number of grown steers in store condition mostly sold to the feeders who paid from 148c to 268c/kg. Grown heifers were 25c cheaper and more in places with the better types selling from 170c to 200c/kg. Once again there were good numbers of grown heifers in store condition which sold to the restockers selling from 100c to 140c/kg.

Plain conditioned cows to the processors were 20c to 28c cheaper while the properly finished cows were 13c/kg cheaper. 1 and 2 score cows sold from 30c to 119c with the large number of 2 scores weighing between 400kg and 520kg averaging just on 100c while the better 3 and 4 scores sold from 108c to 174c with the prime heavy weights averaging 165c/kg. Cows to the restockers were a little dearer with a couple of fresh orders. The restockers and feeders purchased large numbers with the restockers paying from 10c to 123c while the feeders paid from 123c to 142c/kg.

Bulls were cheaper with the better heavy weights selling from 150c to 201c/kg. Young bulls to the restockers sold from 80c to 146c/kg.

To view full NLRS report click here