Cattle prices continue to climb, with further gains at NVLX Wodonga of 15-17c/kg in bigger yarding of 1,340 cattle.
The mood was described as exciting by producers, with bidding duels between major feedlots and domestic processors adding another 15c-17c on the asking price of some lines of cattle.
Equally impressive as the top prices on cents per kilogram basis is the carcass weight price, with plenty of sales creeping above 700c/kg barrier. For example trade cattle weighing estimated 480kg averaged 703c/kg carcass weight.
The top trade price recorded was 386c for European supplementary fed vealer heifer, with a couple of pens breaking above 370c/kg mark. Generally vealers were 5c cheaper due to the lack of quality.
Domestic processors had to step up against feedlot pressure causing trade steer prices to lift 2c/kg. Medium weight trade steers 400-500kg sold at 355-380c/kg.
Meanwhile competition ramped up between feedlots and domestic processors for trade weight heifers. The exceptional rates were paid for the grain fed portion where prices topped at 379c to average 359c/kg.
Bidding for the main pens of feeder steers intensified sending prices 17c/kg higher. The bulk of the feeder steers 400-500kg fetched 362-393c/kg. The spotlight was also on the lighter weights where rates lifted 16c to reach a top price of 396c/kg.
Grown steers and bullocks prices were mostly unchanged to a few cents dearer. Not all buyers attended however there was an extra domestic processor operating sporadically after a lengthy absence. Well finished steers and bullocks regularly sold from 340-370c/kg
In the cow market bigger numbers didn’t affect rates with price mostly unchanged. Heavy cows benefited from steady competition making from 275-293c/kg. Leaner cows also came under pressure, with strong orders from the north and south cementing a floor in rates. Leaner cows sold at 247-275c/kg
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