Widespread rain had a predictable effect on market trends at NLRS-reported cattle sales around the country yesterday, severely disrupting the supply of cattle to market and pushing prices higher for most categories.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator closed yesterday 3.25 points higher to 393c/kg carcase weight.
In Toowoomba in Southern Queensland the yardings at the weekly Elders and Landmark prime sales were slashed yesterday, with Elders assembling 468 cattle, half the number yarded last week, and Landmark auctioning 178 cattle, down by 865 on last Monday’s sale.
The Toowoomba Elders yarding was dominated by young cattle, with competition from the large panel of buyers helping values to regain some of the previous weeks’ losses.
The NLRS quoted export classes as generally dearer. Calves to trade averaged 235c/kg, with restockers paying up to 244c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged 2c higher at 225c while restocker lines averaged 234c and made to 239.2c/kg. A handful of bullocks averaged 192c and sold to 204.2c/kg, medium-weight 2-score cows averaged 127c and 3-scores 144c/kg, while good heavy cows made to 175.2c.
At the Toowoomba Landmark sale only a small sample of yearling steers and heifers were penned, and the story was similar, with a good attendance of buyers pushing prices for most classes of young cattle back up, while steers and bullocks lifted in value by 5c to 7c, and cows gained a similar amount.
Light and medium weight yearling steers to feed mostly sold around 222c with sales to 225c/kg, while heavy steers to export slaughter averaged 187c and a few pens of bullocks made to 194.6c to average 192c/kg.
In New South Wales, Tamworth saw numbers drop by 300 head to 1060 head yesterday. Yearlings made up over 60pc of the offering. Quality had a significant bearing of prices in the mixed yarding, with most price movements quality-related.
All usual processors were operating however competition was reduced, with younger cattle selling generally cheaper. However, where quality was good, prices were dearer, the NLRS reported.
Light yearling steers were cheaper by 3c to 5c/kg with the average quality of the steers to restock improving. Medium and heavy steers to restock and feed were sold firm to 4c/kg cheaper. For the most part heifer yearlings were cheaper with competition restricted from all sectors.
The quality of the heavy grown steers was down with prices averaging 8ckg cheaper. Heavy manufacturing steers were down 1c/kg. The cow market varied with medium weight 2 and 3 score cows selling to a dearer trend with quality and restocker competition a factor. The plainer condition cows that also attracted restocker competition show.
At Wagga agents assembled 1740 head, 1125 less than the previous week.
All usual buyers were active in a dearer market. The yearling steer category saw the biggest reduction in numbers, followed by grown steers and bullocks, with all other categories were well represented.
Vealers made from 180c to 226c and restockers paid up to 242c/kg for the lightweights. Heavy trade yearling steers gained 11c ranging from 170c to 218c/kg. Medium weight feeder steers lifted 13c and the heavy weights gained 7c/kg. Feeders sold from 174c to 216c/kg.
The trade heifers gained 4c to 11c selling from 172c to 205c/kg.Grown steers and bullocks received stronger competition and the prices were 5c to 9c/kg dearer with the reduced numbers and better quality assisting price rises. The C3 and C4 steers made from 162c to 188c/kg.
The better heavier cows lifted 6c to 9c with the 3 and 4 scores ranging from 135c to 154c/kg. The 2 scores to processors made from 120c to 136c and those returning to the paddock made to 154.2c/kg
Further south in Victoria, buyer activity was strong in a reduced yarding at Pakenham where agents yarded 1400 cattle, 333 less than last week.
The NLRS said the exceptional feed growth in the region was reflected in some lines of vealers heifers, while quality in
Lot feeder buyers were unable to compete strongly against the domestic processors, while restockers were also active on plainer steers.
Strong competition led by domestic processors on vealers, particularly lighter weights, helped to lift those categories up to 10c, while heavier vealers were firm to 2c/kg dearer.
European steers and heifers sold from 205c to 238c/kg, yearling steers and heifers suitable to trade held fir with medium weight heifers averaging 179c, and medium weight steers sold from 174c to 210c/kg.
Restocking yearling steers returning to the paddock reached a top price of 210c/kg or the equivalent of $966/head.
Today’s Roma Store Cattle sale has been cancelled as a result of widespread wet weather and flowing rivers and creeks in the Maranoa region.
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