Yarding 5375 Change 1575

Young cattle lacking finish and large numbers of cows dominated numbers in the larger yarding which produced a cheaper market for most sections.

Numbers lifted by almost 1600 for a yarding of 5375. It was a mostly plain quality yarding with very few prime conditioned grown steers and heifers yarded and the cow quality was only fair.

There was a reasonable selection of cattle to suit the feeders along with large numbers of weaners as growers take advantage of the stronger markets over the past week. The bulk of the cattle were sourced from local districts with only odd consignments from the far west.  Not all the regular buyers were present with the absence of a major export processor and a couple of feeder operators were also absent.

Young cattle to the trade were 8c cheaper with prime steer yearlings selling from 280c to 300c while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 230c to 286c/kg.

Feeder steers were firm for the lighter weights and 12c/kg dearer for the heavier weights compared to the much smaller numbers in the previous sale. Feeder heifers were generally 15c to 20c/kg cheaper. Feeder steers sold from 262c 316c with the medium weights weighing between 330kg and 400kg averaging 288c while the heavier weights over 400kg averaged 299c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 212c to 255c with most averaging between 220c and 235c/kg.

Young cattle to the restockers were 15c to 25c cheaper with the market struggling with the much larger numbers. The young steer weaners sold from 206c to 294c with the calves weighing between 200kg and 280kg averaging 244c while the young heifers sold from 165c to 258c with the good number of lightweight calves less than 200kg averaging just 192c/kg. The heavier steers to the backgrounders though were dearer with the steer yearlings to the restockers selling from 197c to 299c/kg.

Grown steers were 12c cheaper with the small number making it difficult to draw a comparison. The prime medium and heavy weights sold from 260c to 296c with the 500kg to 600kg steers averaging 272c/kg. Grown steers to the feeders sold well selling from 218c to 290c/kg. Grown heifers were 6c cheaper with the better types selling from 230c to 281c/kg. There were large numbers of grown heifers lacking finish which sold to the restockers selling from 126c to 200c/kg.

Cows to the processors were 9c to 13c/kg cheaper. 1 and 2 score cows sold from 77c to 183c with the 2 score cows weighing between 400kg and 500kg averaging 164c/kg. The better 3 and 4 score cows sold from 159c to 234c with the prime heavy weights averaging 206c/kg. There were good numbers of cows sold to the restockers and feeders which mostly sold at 20c to 30c/kg cheaper rates. Cows to the restockers sold from 98c to 190c/kg.

Bulls were a little dearer mainly due to quality with the better heavy weight bulls selling from 210c to 235c/kg.

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