Numbers dropped again at Wagga with just over 2800 prime cattle yarded. It was a typical winter offering with quality fair to very good across the pens of supplementary fed or crop finished stock.

Cattle prices remained strong with bidding from processors, feedlots and restockers at higher levels throughout the sale. Rain across the supply area appeared to give store buyers confidence which in turn placed pressure on feedlots and domestic processors over light weight categories. Light weight steers returning to the paddock were pushed 20c higher making from 300-338c to average $942 per head.

Feedlot steers were unchanged to 6c dearer selling at 300-348c/kg. The heifer portion slipped back 6-12c with some buyers not operating this week. Lighter weight feed heifers 330-400kg sold from 255-318c/kg.

The best presented pens of supplementary fed steers mostly sold to feedlots with processors not willing to match price. In general the limited number of medium weight trade steers sold from 292-347c/kg.  Trade heifers were well supported with a major domestic processor Coles, returning to the market after lengthy absence. Trade heifers gained 12c making from 305-333c/kg.

In the vealer section only the very best European vealers met with support, overall rates were unchanged. Vealer sold from a wide price spread of 280-320-c/kg.

There was also some noticeable price gains recorded for heavy steers and bullocks. The seasonal shortage and improved quality lifted rates on average 16-19c, with the better finished steers making from 305-332c/kg.

In the cow market all weights and grades were represented. The market improved 4-8c with three processors buying the bulk of the offering. Heavy cows sold at 248-274c/kg. D2 and D3 medium weight lines made from 200-256c/kg.

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