NUMBERS were back by 700 with vendors offering 3400 cattle at the Wagga market on Monday.
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According to Meat and Livestock Australia's National Livestock Reporting Service numbers declined and quality was fair, with good numbers of trade steers, grass finished or off crop.
The balance of the yearling steers were mostly in forward, store condition. Trade heifers were in shorter supply.
Back grounders, feedlots and restockers were all active pushing prices substantially higher.
Heavy steer and bullock numbers were similar and competition was strongest for the younger well finished steers. Cow numbers remained high with just over 900 yarded.
The limited availability of good domestic cattle is starting to show up in the form of better prices, with an average price gain of 10c/kg.
Trade steers recorded a top price of 330c to average 316c/kg. Trade heifers attracted a large field of feedlot buyers making from 255c to 324c/kg. Light weight weaner steers to restockers gained 30c due to stronger local competition, making from 210c to 316c/kg.
Light weight store heifers retuning to the paddock jumped 22c making from 200 to 250c/kg. A bigger field of feedlot buyers were operating in a stronger market for most categories.
There was solid support for feed steers, 400kg to 500kg, with the well-bred portion selling 21c dearer, while the lighter weights lifted 16c, to average 289c/kg.
Light weight feeder heifers, 330kg to 400kg, sold to a few more buyers and the well-bred portion were ideally suited to several orders which contributed to the dearer trend of 13c/kg.
Grown steers and bullocks were in reasonable supply and quality was very good, particularly across the bullock section. Finished steers made 290c to 344c/kg. Bullocks were limited and prices jumped notably to average 319c/kg. Heavy heifers with shape sold from 256c to 317c/kg.
It was another large yarding of cows. Prices across the board were 9c to 10c/kg cheaper. Heavy cows sold to a smaller group of processors selling from 212c to 258c/kg. The D2 and D3 types made from 183 to 231c/kg.
