Prices generally stayed firm for secondary cattle despite the market facing a shortage. Heavy rain last week deterred producers and hampered the movement of stock in a similar size yarding of 2,200. It must be noted it was the smallest penning of cows recorded with only 157 yarded.
Price results on Monday showed well finished yearling cattle received limited support from some domestic processors. Yearling trade steers sold at 351c-391c easing 6c to average 377c/kg. In the heifer run buyers competed sporadically at times for the heavier portion 400-500kg causing rates to drop 12c/kg. The main run of medium weight trade heifers made from 330-380c/kg.
There were reasonable supplies of vealers suitable to slaughter and prices slipped up to 10c/kg as several buyers opted not to push the market. European cross vealers sold from 370-395c/kg.
The reduced supplies of secondary yearlings cemented a floor in feeder steer rates, with prices generally unchanged. Well-bred steers made from 340-391c/kg. The feeder heifer market lifted 14c for lighter weights, with feedlots paying up to 390c/kg for heifers 280-330kg. Medium weight feeder heifers sold firm making 330-368c/kg.
A highlight of the sale was well-bred steers 200-300kg where prices jumped 16c/kg. Northern restockers were the market drivers and steers returning to the paddock made from 380-467c/kg.
The export market was solid with heavy steers 500-600kg selling from 318-376c/kg. High yielding bullocks sold to a small field of buyers, with only a few processors operating over this category. Bullocks were unchanged making from 330-363c/kg.
The cow market offered only 157 cows the lowest number on record. Most buyers were subdued preferring to bid on the leaner types. Heavy cows sold 15c cheaper making from 252-286c/kg. Lean cows were firm to 4c easier to average 251.6c/kg.
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