At Wagga numbers jumped significantly, with 3,600 cattle yarded. The bigger numbers caused mixed price trends over some categories.

Changes to feeder cattle prices in the past few weeks show how the market is still struggling to find a balance between supply and demand. There were fewer orders this week and prices dipped 18c for lighter steer weights 330-400kg to make from 242-303c/kg. Heavier weights saw prices fluctuate to average 7c cheaper making from 248-297c/kg. In the heifer run prices for light and medium weights dipped 7c with those categories selling from 235-270c/kg.

The yearling trade market tracked cheaper, with reports of plenty of box meat on offer in Victoria. The better finished steers slipped a few cents making from 260c-290c/kg. Competition for trade heifers was considerably weaker which resulted in rates tumbling 10c/kg. The main line of heifers sold at 232-295c/kg.

Vealers were in short supply and a highlight of the sale. Buyers stepped up to acquire fresh well finished types pushing rates up by 10c/kg . The bulk of the select European types sold at 280-322c/kg.

A shortage of heavy steers at major selling centres gave the market greater momentum this week, with prices improving by up to 10c/kg. The dearer trend was obvious at the commencement of the sale with top quality younger lines of supplementary fed heavy grown steers 500 -600kg lifting 10c to average 260c/kg. There was however a weaker trend for bullocks with prices slipping 9c/kg, the better runs of bullocks consistently made from 250c-265c/kg.

Another strong sale was for of the heavy heifer portion where heifers weighing 500-600kg made up to 266c/kg. Most of the better shaped pens selling from 240c to 263c/kg.

Despite an almost full field of buyers rates slipped 13-16c/kg. Well finished cows sold from 194c-210c/kg.. A run of leaner cows made from 160-206c, while plainer types travelling back to the paddock selling from 160-206c/kg.