Numbers increased to 5150 on the back of the higher prices seen the previous sale.

Young lighter weight secondary cattle were well supplied and there was a greater variance in quality, with most lacking finish and some lots winter affected.

Trade cattle were in short supply and quality was variable. Heavy export steers and bullocks were limited, with some pen lots needing more finish.

The usual gallery of export and domestic processors were in attendance, along with most of the usual lot feeder and restocker orders.

The better quality supply of prime veal sold to weaker competition from southern processors, which resulted in a cheaper trend of 4c/kg.

Lighter weight vealers were well supplied and prices were notably lower, falling 10c to 21c/kg. European veal and their crosses made from 275c to 305c/kg.

Medium weight grass finished and supplementary fed steers suitable to slaughter were in short supply, and domestic buyers struggled to find well finished types. The better finished steers to slaughter were unchanged to a few cents dearer to average 296.2c/kg.

Domestic buyers shifted their efforts to the heifer portion because of the improved quality and slightly less competition. Well finished medium weight heifers were unchanged to average 279c/kg. There were over 200 head of young heifers grain fed for 70 days and these sold to strong domestic competition, making from 272c to 299.2c/kg.

Feeder steers were once again well supplied and made up the bulk of the steer offering. A smaller field of buyers were in attendance, with less competition from northern operators. Well-bred C2 medium weight lines were 11c cheaper to average 281.4c/kg. The reduced selection of medium weight feeder heifers sold weaker demand and prices eased 10c/kg.

The lighter weight C2 muscled pens sold to steady demand, with prices unchanged to 2c dearer and averaging 258.3c/kg.

The limited supply of grown steers sold to the usual group of buyers and prices were 12c/kg cheaper. There were only eight pens of bullocks offered which sold from 244c to 290c/kg. The better quality pens of grass finished grown steers ranged from 270c to 304c/kg.

Heavy grown heifers were in reasonable supply and bidding intensified for the younger well shaped heifer portion weighing less than 600kg. The better shaped heifers weighing 500 to 600kg made from 220c to 299c/kg. Heavy cow quality was mixed, with some cows lacking yield. The better finished cows were 7c cheaper and made from 190c to 222c/kg.

The D2 and D3 cows were well supplied and made from 160c to 205c/kg. Younger light weight cows with plenty of frame were keenly sought by a smaller group of store buyers and prices were up to 9c/kg cheaper.