Numbers were back by 1100 for a yarding of 5250. It was a mixed yarding with some good lines of young cattle to suit the feeders and trade buyers along with some well finished bullocks and cows with once again the bulk of the prime cattle coming off crops or have had access to grain.

There were also a large percentage of plainer cattle in from the far west with some particularly large consignments in from the Broken Hill area.

All the normal processors were operating along with the return of some feeder orders and once again there was solid support from southern restockers.

NLRS advises that young cattle to the trade were up to 15c dearer with steer vealers to the trade selling from 269c to 312c while the heifer vealers sold from 263c to 298c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 250c to 304c with the medium weights weighing between 330kg and 400kg averaging 290c while the heavy weights averaged 280c/kg. The prime heifer yearlings also sold to 304c with the medium weights averaging 265c/kg.

Lightweight feeder steers were firm though the majority of the feeder steers and heifers were 12c to 15c dearer and more in places with good support coming from both northern and southern operators. The feeder steers sold from 255c to 300c with the large number over 400kg averaging 287c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 245c to 271c with the medium weights averaging 263c/kg.

Young steers to the restockers were dearer selling from 220c to 320c while the young heifers to the restockers were a little cheaper selling from 238c to 268c/kg.

Despite the continuing dry conditions there was still a good selection of prime bullocks most of which had been grain assisted. Grown steers to the trade were 1c to 3c cheaper with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 252c to 280c with the medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 269c/kg. Grown steers to the feeders were dearer selling from 262c to 278c/kg. There was a larger selection of grown heifers compared to previous sales as growers sell off their pregnancy tested empty heifers as they try to lighten numbers due to the dry conditions. Grown heifers to the processors were 8c cheaper selling from 236c to 255c with the heavy weights averaging 240c/kg.

Cows which were responsible for 25% of the total yarding were 10c cheaper despite support coming from most of the usual operators. Limited numbers of 2 score cows sold from 130c to 199c/kg with no cows going to the restockers. The better 3 and 4 score cows sold from 165c to 226c with the prime heavy weights averaging 215c/kg.

Bulls were also 10c cheaper with the better types in good condition selling from 230c to 260c to average 250c/kg. Young bulls to the restockers sold from 190c to 250c/kg.