Cattle consignments fell by 27 per cent week-on-week at Meat and Livestock Australia’s NLRS reported markets, for a total of 22,177 head.

Wagga lost 22 per cent, for 4100 head yarded, as Tamworth slipped 13 per cent and penned 1636 cattle. Forbes lost 19 per cent, at 2176 head, while CTLX slipped by 30 per cent to pen 2850 cattle.

Gunnedah lost 29 per cent, for an offering of 2350 head, while Inverell slipped by 44 per cent, to 900 cattle.

The Hunter markets both penned lower numbers, as Scone lost 44 per cent, for 1111 head, while Singleton eased 7 per cent, to pen 820 cattle. The northern sales of Armidale lost 20 per cent, as Casino halved, with only 1010 head consigned. Dubbo slipped 19 per cent, for a total of 4250 head.

Quality mixed

Quality on average over the state was mixed, with some markets penning a plainer quality yarding, week-on-week. There were 6191 younger steers consigned, back 33 per cent compared to the previous week. The younger heifers totalled 5877 head, as grown steer numbers also slipped for a total of 1482 head. Cows numbered 3839 head, a fall of 27 per cent week-on-week.

Prices continue to trend lower

The medium weight vealer steers returning to the paddock averaged 5c cheaper, to sell from 200c to 275c/kg. The equivalent weighted heifer portion to the processors slipped 4c to average 219c, after reaching 230c/kg. The medium and heavy weight yearling steers to the feeders and restockers sold 6c cheaper and averaged from 235c to 243c, after reaching 265c/kg. Yearling heifers to restocker and lot feeder orders trended 8c/kg cheaper. Well-finished younger cattle to the trade lost 4c to 6c/kg on average.

The heavy weight grown steers suitable for slaughter averaged 5c to 8c lower, with the majority sold around the 210c to 218c range, after topping at 245c/kg.

Cows again struggled to maintain firm prices and lost from 2c to 4c/kg, however the plainer 2 scores did sell to strong processor competition. The 2 scores averaged from 154c to 158c, as the better covered 3 and 4 scores ranged from 130c to 211c/kg.  Heavy weight bulls slipped 3c, with the best reaching 252c/kg.