The seasonal shortage of prime finished cattle gave the market extra drive this week at NVLX Wodonga, in a smaller yarding of just over 1,000 cattle.

Vendors were well rewarded when domestic processors became the market drivers over both trade and some export categories in order to secure numbers, pushing prices 12-20c/k higher.

The highlight of the sale was supplementary fed yearlings and vealers where the steer portion recorded a top price of 348.2c/kg. Medium weight steers generally sold from 315-335c to average 325c/kg.

Bidding intensified for yearling heifers 400-500kg, instigating a rate rise of 12c/kg. Well finished heifers fetched 284-324c averaging 306c/kg.

Vealers were in limited supply and any better finished stock sold 13-17c/kg dearer topping at 344c/kg. Plainer and lighter weight vealer rates were in influenced by strong restocker and feedlot demand. Veal to feed on sold from 302-320c a dearer trend of 8c/kg. Well-bred vealers returning to the paddock ranged from 310-323c averaging $977.

Feeder steers were limited and prices did bounce around on plainer pens. Well-bred steers sold 6c higher to strong local and northern competition selling at 292-328c/kg. Feeder heifers were limited selling at 292-304c/kg.

Rain depleted heavy cattle numbers leading to a price surge of 16c for steers 500-600kg. Well finished pens sold at 296-322c to average 310c/kg. Bullocks were few and sales ranged from 282-313c/kg.

In the cow run a few more buyers participated and prices improved 9-14c/kg. A run of heavy beef cows averaged 236c topping at 248c/kg. Leaner grades sold from 195-248c/kg. Store cows were keenly contested and prices jumped 28c selling at 185-213c/kg. It was a better quality line up of bulls, with heavy bulls regularly selling from 236-260c/kg