WHAT a week it has been at all cattle sales, both fat cattle markets and store sales.
It really started 10 days ago, but last Wednesday was when it really took off. That day saw extreme competition and a lift in heavy steer and bullock prices of 20 to 30 cents per kilogram liveweight.
Since then all markets have been catching up, and at times surpassing the top prices of that Leongatha sale.
My concern, first thing Monday morning, was how the processors would react to the expected big lift in supply that would come from the huge lift in prices.
That big increase in numbers came with vengeance, with all markets offering larger supply, except for Wodonga on Tuesday, which was unchanged.
Pakenham agents offered 2531 head, which was 1033 more, and by far the largest percentage of the yarding weighed over 500 kilograms liveweight with hundreds of bullocks among them.
When analysing the markets, it was clear to see the best competition was for heavier cattle, especially the export grades.
While at Pakenham on Monday, except for one sale of vealers at 238c, most sold from 190-220c/kg lwt.
This was the case with the heavier and older cattle too.
Prime bullocks sold to 218c/kg, and this prices was equalled, or within a couple of cents at many sales, heavy steers sold to 221c/kg, and quality heifers reached 215c/kg, and these cattle had not been grain assisted.
When working out the dollar value, the numbers were huge.
Bullocks have made to within a whisker of $1600, grown steers to $1200 and yearling heifers to $1100.
All of these price increases did influence larger yardings, one day after the other, but the other determining factor on supply is the close proximity of Easter.
Next Friday (April 18) is Good Friday and markets held Tuesday and Wednesday will be small, and there are no markets Thursday.
To top this off, Naracoorte and Mt Gambier are not having a market for two weeks.
The Leongatha market yesterday (April 9) was so over drawn, the VLE orchestrated a split of the sale into two days.
Bullocks and trade cattle were sold yesterday and cows today (April 10).
However, despite all of the large increase in numbers, processors appear to be taking it in their stride and keeping prices at the high levels.
Most vealer sold from 190-220c/kg, with secondary vealers and yearling cattle 170-205c/kg, and being purchased mostly by feedlots and restockers.
Yearling steers and heifers have increased by large amounts with grain-fed cattle selling to 221c/kg, and grass-fed and supplementary fed to 220c/kg.
Most steers worth their salt sold from 190-215c/kg, and heifers from 180-215c/kg lwt.
Cow numbers have been large too, and the very best beef cows have sold from 150-179c/kg.
Numerous leaner types sold well making from 135-152c/kg, and the carcase weight price averages have reached close to 300c/kg – a figure that was nearly impossible for any grade of cattle three weeks ago.
The EYCI figure closed at 352c/kg, 13.25c higher week-on-week, and 35.25c compared to a month ago.