Extra restocker support from northern buyers held the market up well in a large yarding.

Compared to the sale of two weeks ago numbers were up by 1150 for a yarding of 7000.

Due to the continuing dry conditions a large percentage of the yarding was made up of young cattle lacking finish. There was though a reasonable selection of trade cattle along with some well finished grown steers and cows providing a better than expected quality yarding. Most of the regular buyers were operating along with additional restocker support from Roma and Moree buyers. There were also two additional processor orders along with an extra feeder order from southern operators.

NLRS advises that the young cattle to the trade which commenced on a cheaper note gained momentum as the sale progressed finishing close to firm. Steer vealers sold from 297c to 312c while the heifer vealers sold from 256c to 315c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 276c to 314c while the prime heifer yearlings to the trade buyers sold from 254c to 282c/kg.

Feeder cattle finished firm to 5c cheaper with the feeder steers selling from 262c to 308c with the heavy weights over 400kg averaging 295c while the lighter weights averaged 291c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 236c to 276c with the medium weights averaging 264c/kg.

Young restocker steers were around firm while the restocker heifers were 10c dearer with almost all of the support coming from the northern buyers. Young steers to the restocker sold from 253c to 324c with the lightweights less than 200kg averaging 303c while the heavier weights averaged 295c/kg. The young heifers to the restockers sold from 220c to 320c/kg to average around 260c/kg. The older steer yearlings going to the restockers were all up to 15c dearer selling from 285c to 309c/kg with once again active support coming from the northern buyers.

There were some good lines of well finished grown steers most of which had been grain assisted. Grown steers finished 12c dearer with the prime medium weights selling from 268c to 289c to average 283c/kg. Grown heifers were up to 15c dearer with the prime heavy weights over 540kg selling from 255c to 275c to average 267c/kg.

Cows to the processors were firm to 3c dearer with the 2 scores selling from 130c to 192c/kg. The better 3 and 4 scores sold from 176c to 226c with the prime heavy weights averaging 210c/kg. There were very few cows sold to the restockers with the 1 and 2 scores going back to the paddock selling from 70c to 162c/kg.

Bulls were 5c dearer with the prime heavy weights selling from 231c to 257c/kg. The restockers paid from 217c to 228c/kg.