With the forecast of rain for both Sunday and Monday numbers were back by 1000 for a yarding of 2845.

A large percentage of the yarding consisted of store conditioned cattle from both local and far western districts with a particularly large consignment from Menindee.

There was a good supply of cows though prime trade cattle and grown steers were in limited supply.

Around 50mm of rain in northern NSW and Queensland created a strong market in all sections with solid support from a full field of buyers. There was very strong restocker support from northern operators following the rain along with the forecast of follow up rain. This was very useful to the market with the southern restockers pulling out due to their conditions getting very dry.

MLA Market information advises young cattle to the trade were up to 20c dearer with prime steer vealers selling from 281c to 308c while the prime heifer vealers to the trade buyers sold from 275c to 328c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 279c to 309c to average 291c while the prime heifer yearlings sold from 250c to 288c/kg.

Feeder steers were 10c dearer and more in places while the feeder heifers were up to 25c/kg dearer with most of the support coming from northern operators. Feeder steers sold from 268c to 299c with the medium and heavy weights averaging 284c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 237c to 279c with the medium weights averaging 265c/kg.

Young cattle to the restockers were up to 40c dearer with very solid support from northern NSW and Queensland buyers who were keen to secure numbers. Young steers going back to the paddock sold from 270c to 374c with the lightweights less than 200kg averaging 341c/kg. Young heifers to the restockers sold from 256c to 324c while the large number of steer yearlings to the backgrounders sold from 259c to 350c/kg.

Compared to the previous sales much cheaper market grown steers were up to 20c dearer regaining the lost ground with the prime medium and heavy weights selling from 247c to 283c with the medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 273c/kg. Grown steers to the feedlotters were also dearer selling from 230c to 280c/kg. Grown heifers were 7c dearer with the properly finished better types selling from 240c to 261c/kg.

Cows were 15c dearer with the 2 scores to the processors selling from 145c to 193c/kg. The restockers paid from 172 to 206c for cows to fatten or breed on with. The better 3 and 4 score cows to the processors sold from 185c to 230c with the prime heavy weights averaging 219c/kg.

The better muscled and well finished bulls were up to 14c dearer selling from 241c to 271c with the heavy weights averaging 261c/kg. The large number of young bulls to the restockers were also 14c dearer selling from 190c to 304c/kg.