Overall NSW supply as steady this week, for a total of 26,730 head, as reported by MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service.

Numbers at Dubbo and Gunnedah lifted 13 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, yarding 7200 head and 3050 head. Consignments to Wagga and CTLX eased 5 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively, following large offerings last week and in anticipation of coming rain. Inverell yarded similar numbers to last week, while Forbes jumped 10 per cent in total.

Quality mostly good and strong feeder interest

Most major markets reported good quality yardings, with plenty of prime conditioned cattle at Dubbo and young cattle showing plenty of weight at CTLX. Lotfeeders continued to source solid numbers of cattle from physical markets. At Wagga, lotfeeder competition was very strong across all well-bred lines above 400kg and feeder prices in Gunnedah and CTLX held firm, while in Dubbo feeder cattle were firm to 3c/kg easier.

Yearlings hold firm, while cows ease

Demand for young cattle held strong, with yearling steers and heifers firm to 6c/kg dearer. After solid gains in previous weeks, cow prices eased around 7c/kg across most weight ranges. Light and medium vealers eased this week, with medium C2 vealer steers to restockers back 1c on 208c, while medium C2 vealer heifers slipped 8c, averaging 181c/kg. Selling to lotfeeders, medium C2 and C3 yearling steers averaged 1c and 4c dearer, respectively, and heavy C2 and C3 lines were firm to 5c/kg dearer. Medium C2 yearling heifers onto feed averaged 182c, 8c dearer, and heavy C3 yearling heifers averaged 185c, up 2c/kg week-on-week. Heavy C3 grown steers to slaughter were firm on 198c, selling from 173c to 220c, while medium D3 cows eased 5c, averaging 154c, and heavy D4 cows slipped 7c, averaging 170c/kg.