Numbers were down to 4600 and quality declined over most yearling categories. The trade market lacked enthusiasm at times with not all buyers participating.
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According to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service there were some store orders in place, and restockers remained keen to secure their portion of lighter weight cattle.
Vealers were in short supply, making from 290c to 310c/kg. Yearling trade cattle sold to fluctuating price trends, due to less buyer competition and plainer quality.
The main run of heifers sold 2c easier to average 265c, while the steer portion sold from 270c to 307c/kg. Secondary cattle under 400kg were aided by solid demand from several feedlot companies to average 303c/kg.
Feeder heifers were keenly sought with one buyer arriving later in the market and pushing prices slightly higher. Feeder heifers, 400-500kg, sold from 250c to 292c/kg.
The bulk of the store steers gained 2c to sell from 290c to 340c/kg. Heifers back to the paddock weighing 280-330kg averaged $963/head.
Export steers sold predominantly to one major export buyer, with a small number of domestic processors making small purchases sporadically. The better C3 and C4 steers sold from 260c to 274c/kg.
In the cow market, quality was fair to good, weaker demand from both the northern and southern buyers contributed to a price decline of 10c/kg for heavy well finished types.
Heavy cows topped at 239c, to average 229c/kg. The D3 medium weights were in reasonable supply and made from 212c to 230c/kg.