Solid buying support from the south added competition for the better yarding of grown steers which were dearer in what was otherwise a mostly cheaper market.

As the dry weather continues numbers keep rolling in with numbers lifting by 1700 for a total of 6400.

There were very few cattle from the far west with the thought that they may have finished their selloff due to the dry conditions. The bulk of the yarding was sourced from local districts.

Once again in the yarding there were large numbers of cows and young calves as growers continue to offload due to the lack of feed and water. Well finished trade cattle were in limited supply though there were a few pens of well finished grown steers which had been grain assisted. Most of the regular buyers were operating including an extra southern bullock buyer along with some extra restocker orders from the north.

NLRS advises young cattle to the trade were up to 15c cheaper with vealers selling from 230c to 287c. The prime steer yearlings sold from 270c to 304c while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 220c to 262c/kg.

The best of the feeder steers were firm while most of the feeder cattle though were 5c to 10c cheaper with the feeder steers selling from 229c to 307c with the heavy weights over 400kg averaging 279c and the lighter weights weighing between 330kg and 400kg averaging 273c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 210c to 262c to average around 250c/kg.

There were large numbers of young cattle to suit the restockers which sold up to 20c cheaper rates with very limited support from all buyers with the exception of a Queensland operator. The young steers going back to the paddock sold from 220c to 324c with the large number weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaging 263c while the young heifers to restockers met very dull support selling from 178c to 262c to average 235c/kg.

The better yarding of grown steers were firm to 5c dearer with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 235c to 282c to average 271c/kg. Grown heifers were dearer for the lighter weights and up to 5c cheaper for the heavy weights selling from 229c to 265c/kg.

There was only limited support from the southern processors in the cow market with cows to the processors selling at 15c to 17c cheaper rates. 2 score cows to the processors sold from 90c to 136c while the better 3 and 4 scores sold from 120c to 215c for the best British breed cows. A single pen of outstanding C muscle Limousin cows sold for 227c/kg. The prime heavy weight cows to the processors averaged 186c/kg. Large numbers of plainer conditioned cows to the restockers were 10c cheaper for the very light cows and firm for the heavier types over 400kg. Cows to the restockers sold from 20c to 144c with most selling from 120c to 130c/kg.

  Bulls to the processors were 5c dearer with the better bulls selling from 207c 230c/kg. Young bulls to the restockers were up to 40c cheaper selling from 150c to 220c/kg.