Numbers did return to average winter levels following last week’s surge for the first market of the new financial year. There were 2,500 yarded (2000 less than a week ago).

It was a mixed quality offering, with some lines winter affected. The plainer lines of secondary cattle created mixed price trends as farmers face cold wet conditions and tried to take advantage of the dearer price trends recorded last week.

Prices for better finished slaughter cattle were a highlight, with the supplementary fed yearlings and heavy grown cattle attracting strong bidding. Trade steers 400-500kg lifted 15c making from 339-357.6c to average 355c/kg.

There were plenty of supplementary fed heifers suitable for the trade which saw stronger demand and prices up to 5c higher. Medium weight heifers 400-500kg fetched 316-348c/kg

Vealer suitable for the trade was limited, with quality and weights a determining factor to the cheaper trend of 5-14c/kg. The better vealers to slaughter sold at 320-355c/kg.

Other big gains were heavy grown heifers which jumped 13c due to the supplementary fed portion. The better lines of heifers off grain sold from 320-339c/kg.

Heavy grown steers 500-600kg and bullocks were firm to 4c dearer the limited supplies sold from 288-358c/kg. Heavy grown steers averaged 341c/kg.

Prices for feeder steers strengthened as the sale progressed. Light weight steers 330-400kg sold 10c higher making from 322-375c/kg. Medium weight steers were keenly sought by several major feedlots which pushed prices 4c higher. The general run of well-bred steers regularly sold from 320-374c/kg.

Meanwhile the feeder heifer market lost traction with not all buyers operating and not the quality at the top end. Lighter weight feeder heifers sold from 322-340 to average 332c/kg.

The cow market lacked all buyers and prices fluctuated at times. Heavy cows sold 6c dearer selling from 250-274c/kg. Leaner grades were in a holding pattern making from 202-263c/kg