A return to a full selling week and dry conditions across many parts of the country resulted in a 35pc increase in national saleyard throughput last week.

Grown cattle numbers recorded the largest increase in supply of any category, representing 42pc of the total national yarding, up from 35pc the previous week.

The increased numbers and plainer winter-affected quality across the board resulted in mixed trends in the performance of the National Livestock Reporting Service’s main price indicators.

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator held relatively firm for the week to average 0.25c/kg lower at 373.75c. 

The trade steer indicator eased by 6c to 357¢/kg, medium weight steers gained 4c to 331c/kg, heavy steers fell by 9c to 330c/kg and feeder steers were unchanged at 199c/kg. The medium cow price indicator rose by 3c to 272¢/kg lwt.

The NLRS said feeder and restocker buyers remained active in their pursuit of good lines of young cattle.

Most of the country was dry last week with the exception of good falls in Southern Western Australia and some welcome falls in parts of Southern South Australia and Victoria.

Temperatures also dropped to typical winter levels with many cities recording their coldest June conditions for many years. 

The NLRS said that despite the cooler conditions, there were still some good quality lines of cattle coming forward in in eastern states markets, but primarily through warmer regions.

It noted that the price difference across the states for heavy steers (500-600kg C4) is becoming more pronounced, with the average saleyard heavy steer price in Queensland at 314¢/kg cwt (down 12c on last week), compared to 338¢/kg cwt in NSW (up 13c) and 343¢/kg cwt in Victoria (down 10c).