Heavy rain drenched the supply area over the weekend and this did deter some producers, with numbers falling noticeably. NVLX Wodonga reported an excellent sale of just over 1,200 cattle.

Prices generally leapt ahead for some categories and were quoted up to 25c/kg dearer. While prices did improve some cattle were left behind. An example was aged bullocks where several buyers preferred to walk on.

The vealer selling season gained momentum, with both numbers and prices increasing. The best price recorded was 425.6c while the best of the heavy vealers averaged 409c/kg. Lighter weight veal was keenly sought and buyers paid up to 25c more for European calves and their crosses. Lighter weight vealers 290-330kg sold at 375-420c/kg.

Trade heifer sold to similar rates of the previous sale, mostly due to good numbers in all weight categories. Medium weight heifers 400-500kg made from 348-378c to average 354c/kg. Trade steers were keenly sought by select butcher orders and stronger competition from major domestic processors. The stronger bidding pushed rates 6c higher and the better finished steers 400-500kg consistently made above 370c/kg, with the best domestic slaughter steers making 380-415c to average 387c/kg.

Feedlot buyers struggled to find cattle suitable, with prices unchanged for the medium weights. Steers 400-500kg made from 348-378, while plainer conditioned steers in the same weight range sold to a top of 342c/kg.

The heifer feeder market lost momentum due to less feedlot orders in place. Light weight well-bred heifers 330-400kg eased 5c fetching 330-363c/kg

Heavy grown steers and bullocks were in limited numbers and quality slipped to the previous sale. Buying was steady throughout the sale and, aged steers were discounted. Heavy steers were unchanged to a few cents easier making from 330-360, while bullocks sold 3c cheaper to average 347c/kg. The shortage of top quality heavy heifers over 500kg gave the market an edge. The better shaped and younger heifers were paid the better rates making from 300-350c/kg.

In the cow market northern processor demand for slaughter cows continued to strengthen on the back of tight supplies. Heavy cows sold 5c dearer selling from 273-285c/kg.   Leaner grades sold to steady demand. The better finished lean cows sold from 268-292c/kg.