Yarding 4264 Change 464

Cattle numbers at Wagga increased to 4264 as a big mob of drover’s weaners and yearlings went under the hammer owing to the extremely dry conditions. However, the increased numbers and mixed quality did cause some price variations throughout the sale.

The smaller field of export buyers and weaker domestic competition generally put a halt to the steady rates of last week. Heavy grown steers 500-600kg eased 3c to sell at 228-312c/kg.  Heavy bullocks met with little competition resulting in a price dip of 4c to average 267c/kg.

Vealer quality slipped to the previous sale, with dry conditions and very cold temperatures taking a toll on some pen lots. The highest price recorded was 303c with most pens selling from 240-286c/kg.

Prices for trade heifers did fluctuate from firm to 5c/kg cheaper. Trade heifers 400-500kg made 260c-294c/kg. A few pens of silage fed heifers and off crop weighing from 330-400kg sold from 244-259ckg.

Yearling steers were well supplied however; strong feedlot demand saw most steers sold to feedlots. The few steers which sold to the trade made from 262c-303c/kg.

Despite the shortage of top quality feeder steers at selling centres the market lost momentum this week, with prices slipping 10c/kg. The trend was evident over heavier weight classes, with steers regularly selling from 224-294c/kg.

It was the same story for feeder heifer market with fewer feedlot orders in place. Rates slipped back 10c with the bulk of the heifers selling from 220-284c/kg.

In the cow market numbers increased to just over 1000 and all weights and grades were represented. Gains of 2 -3c were recorded as the market reacted to a shortage of well finished heavy cows. Heavy cows sold from 170-222c/kg. Leaner grades met with erratic competition selling at 125-208c/kg. There was increased restocker demand on younger light weight store conditioned types in calf averaging  166c/kg Ends…

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