Yarding 4830 Change -330

Strong competition from southern processors held the cow market at strong levels with all cows selling at firm to dearer rates compared to the previous sale’s very strong market.

Numbers fell by 330 this sale for a yarding of 4830. It was a mixed yarding with once again large numbers of cows and weaners in store condition as growers continue to offload due to the season which doesn’t appear to be going to improve in the near future. There were odd pens of ideal feeder cattle throughout the yarding along with a fair selection of well finished trade cattle off crops or grain. There was a fair selection of grown heifers and very few grown steers yarded. The bulk of the cattle were sourced from local districts along with consignments from Moree and Gunnedah as sellers chase the stronger cow market due to the southern influence. A couple of restocker buyers from southern NSW and South Australia who were at the previous sale did not attend however they were replaced by a Forbes district buyer along with a good order from Warren district backgrounders. All the usual processor and feeder operators were in attendance and operating.

NLRS advise the young cattle to the trade were firm to 5c dearer with the prime steer yearlings selling from 285c to 320c with the heavier weights averaging 312c while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 255c to 299c /kg. A single steer vealer in prime condition sold for 312c/kg.

Feeder steers and heifers were up to 8c/kg dearer with the better quality available a factor in the rise. The feeder steers sold from 280c to 333c with the medium and heavy weights averaging 310c and 312c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 220c to 288c with the good number of heifers weighing between 330kg and 400kg averaging 264c/kg.

Young steers to the restockers were 10c to 14c cheaper with the market missing the competition from the southern buyers while the young restocker heifers were 15c/kg dearer with solid support coming from the Forbes and Warren buyers. The young steers sold from 184c to 301c with the calves less than 200kg averaging 229c while the heavier weight calves weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaged 246c/kg. The young restocker heifers sold from 154c to 255c with the lightweights averaging 213c while the heavier calves averaged 231c/kg.

The few grown steers were close to firm with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 266c to 308c/kg. The grown steers to the feeders sold from 270c to 290c/kg. Grown heifers were also firm with the better types selling from 255c to 288c/kg.

Plain conditioned cows to the processors were 5c to 10c dearer while the properly finished cows were firm to 3c/kg dearer. 2 score cows to the processors sold from 155c to 198c with the cows weighing between 400kg and 520kg averaging 181c while the better 3 and 4 scores sold from 180c to 263c with the prime heavy weights averaging 241c/kg. There were some very strong orders for plain conditioned cows to go to both the restockers and feeders with the restocker cows selling lifting in price by up to 20c/kg. The 1 and 2 score cows to the restockers sold from 44c to 204c while the feeders paid from 182c to 205c/kg for suitable cows.

Bulls were 12c dearer with the better heavy weights selling from 210c to 250c while young bulls to the restockers sold from 201c to 236c/kg.

For full NLRS sale report click here