Mixed supply after Easter

Supply was mixed at all of the regular markets reported by the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS), with some Tuesday sales affected by the usual lack of enthusiasm from producers.

The huge increase in supply leading up to Easter would have been unsustainable over the three working days since the Easter long weekend.

We will have to wait to see how the next week evolves, returning to a full working week.

Prices at the Pakenham cow sale and the Wodonga, Shepparton and Camperdown markets were mostly quoted as unchanged by the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS).

Some price increases were noted, which was due mostly to better quality, plus some strong competition from feedlots and restockers.

Prices for the small penning of 165 cows at Pakenham were solid, with European cows selling to 172 cents a kilogram and most other beef breeds of better quality at 150-168c/kg liveweight.

Leaner cows sold mostly at 120-148c/kg, with very few poor-quality cows below 110c/kg.

These prices reflected the selling at other sales on Tuesday.

Not all processors operated fully as supply was insufficient at times to create enough competition.

Most likely, all processors would have made sure they had sufficient supplies of direct sales after Easter to alleviate any shortfall.

Now that NSW and Queensland have had some reasonable rain, feedlot competition has intensified.

The Wodonga sale last Tuesday saw feedlots purchase the lion's share of the steers and heifers, paying up to 223c/kg for steers, with most at 195-213c/kg lwt.

Heifers purchased to feed sold to 205c/kg, with most at 175-195c/kg.

This interaction put a solid floor in all markets and processors had to pay for better-quality cattle.

The influx of supplementary-fed and grain-certified cattle led to yearling steers selling to 232c/kg and heifers to 224c/kg at Wodonga.

The supply of vealers was limited, which saw the best quality sell as high as 241c/kg, with most of the better quality at 200-232c/kg lwt.

Restockers were active on the lesser-quality lines and supported prices of 175-210c/kg for steer and heifer calves.

Grown steers and bullocks were in very short supply and NLRS reported a fall in breeding and therefore quality.

Despite this, demand was strong, with a lot of these steers and bullocks suiting export criteria.

Prices for the best-quality steers were up to 215c/kg, with bullocks to 205c/kg.

Crossbred and dairy breeds sold to a top of 174c/kg for Friesians and 190c/kg for crossbred bullocks.