Numbers lifted by 150 for another large yarding of 5070.

It was a pretty good quality yarding with some top runs of well finished cows and bullocks along with a good mix of far western cattle. Trade weight cattle were also well supplied.

Contrary to earlier reports there continues to be some large consignments coming in from the far west. Consignments this week came from Bourke, Walgett, Coonamble, Broken Hill, Louth, the South Australian border and of course local districts. Most of the regular buyers were in attendance and operating.

Young cattle to the trade commenced on a weaker trend but gained momentum as the sale progressed to finish 5c/kg dearer. Steer vealers sold from 310c to 352c while the heifers sold to 355c/kg. Prime steer yearlings sold from 270c to 325c with the heavier weights over 400kg averaging 306c/kg. The prime heifer yearlings sold from 270c to 337c with the heavier weights averaging 299c/kg.

Despite most of the regular buyers operating young feeder cattle finished 3c to 7c/kg cheaper. The feeder steers sold from 281c to 353c with the large number of prime heavy weights over 400kg averaging 326c/kg. The feeder heifers sold from 270c to 333c with the prime heavy weights here averaging 294c/kg.

Young cattle in store condition remain hard to find resulting in a number of restockers outbidding the processors on some well finished lines of young heifers with the restockers paying from 294c to 415c/kg to secure future breeders. Young steers also remain hard to source with the restockers paying from 320c for plain quality crossbreds to 442c/kg for fair quality Angus calves.

Once again there were good numbers of top quality and properly finished grown steers yarded. The grown steers this week were up to 12c dearer compared to the previous sales cheaper market. The prime medium and heavy weights sold from 280c to 302c with the large number of medium weights weighing between 500kg and 600kg averaging 291c /kg. A limited selection of grown heifers sold to 280c/kg.

Once again there were good numbers of very well finished heavy weight cows yarded along with much larger numbers of lighter weight Brahman cows lacking finish which were sourced from the large far western blocks. Cows finished 1c to 3c/kg cheaper. The 2 scores sold from 160c to 218c with the lighter weights weighing between 400kg and 520kg averaging 209c/kg. The better 3 and 4 score cows sold from 215c to 260c/kg for two C muscle Charolais cows. The 4 score heavy weight cows over 520kg averaged 238c/kg.

Bulls were 2c cheaper with the well-muscled heavy weights over 600kg selling from 242c to 274c to average 265c/kg. The live exporters were back in the market this week securing good numbers and paying from 289c to 345c/kg. The restockers were also very active on young lightweight bulls paying from 241c to 358c.