Markets

Wagga sale 4 August 2015: Prices surge 10-23c/kg

Leann Dax, 04/08/2015

Riverina producers are rejoicing, with wet conditions and prices surging into uncharted territory at Wagga sale yesterday, where numbers were marginally lower in a yarding of 3385 cattle.

Agents said a combination of tight supplies and a lower Australian dollar provided a substantial lift to trade and export categories with prices surging 10-23c/kg.

Medium weight trade steers lifted 22c, aided by stronger demand from major domestic and export processors to fill orders. The quality of the trade cattle was excellent, with good numbers finished off crop or supplementary fed. Well finished steers sold from 340-364c to average 354.1c/kg.

Trade heifer prices continued to rise with all categories 7-8c dearer. The better finished lines enticed spirited bidding from a major domestic processor, with the better finished medium weights consistently selling from 330-359c/kg.

There were limited supplies of vealers and the top pens to slaughter jumped 22c selling from 337-364.6c/kg.

Back grounder demand combined with buying strength from restockers contributed to significant gains for lighter weight steers. Light weight feeder’s steers 280-320 saw robust competition with gains of 17c to average 333c/kg. The better bred medium weight steers 400-500kg gained 4c selling from 322-343c/kg

Light weight secondary steers attracted strong competition from back grounders and restocker. Prices increased by 19c on the previous sale. Steers 200-280 sold from 326c-344c to average 339.6c/kg. Plainer bred steers lacking frame and condition ranged from 295c-326c/kg.

Light weight store heifers did not match the heights of the steer market, easing 7c to average 286.8c/kg.

The shortfall of supply for heavy cattle across the region meant prices pushed 28c for heavy grown steers 500-600kg. Major domestic buyers from the south clashed, with exporters for supplementary fed and crop finished stock. This meant heavy steers topped at 359.6c to average to average 341c/kg. It was more of the same in the bullock run with limited supplies lifting prices 12c, with prices ranging from 310-348c/kg.

A line up of 480 cows sold from a low of 206c to a top price of 289.6c/kg. Stronger demand from southern export processors drove the market generally 9-14c higher. The better finished cows sold from 268- 289.6c/kg. Leaner grades improved 14c with the medium weight averaging 257c/kg. Restockers were in the market for younger plain cows but were no match against the stronger demand. The few pens which returned to the paddock sold from 258-286c/kg.

 

 

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