LIVESTOCK market reports were akin to a dog's breakfast this week, showing mixed trends across a range of classes and selling centres.
Some markets tendered fewer cattle, and many were significantly smaller, but Wagga Wagga, NSW, agents again offered a large penning of 4950 head.
It had already been noted the NSW markets of Dubbo, Forbes and Wagga were offering near record, or record yardings with many cattle by-passing small and cheaper markets further north.
Numerous people have been asking: "Why are our markets not getting dearer?"
The answer is many of our processors are frequenting these large markets, not necessarily due to supply, but also quality.
One processor commented many of the cattle coming into these markets were off winter crops and were in excellent condition.
Equally, their meat quality is better than Victorian cattle at the moment.
With hundreds of cattle coming south for processing, demand is only steady at best.
Hence the fluctuating market prices in Victoria.
Smaller markets are suffering from inconsistent competition, and many of the cattle are on the plainer side. All of this depletes prices.
Having said that, when you delve into the nuts and bolts of prices, many prices are consistent with other sales, when freight is considered.
Price averages potentially offer a better perspective of trends, but some high prices create comment.
At Pakenham's Monday prime cattle sale, prime bullocks sold well with most making 198-209 cents a kilogram liveweight.
However, a large pen of prime C4 Angus bullocks (684kg) sold for 214.6c/kg.
Prices for younger trade cattle and vealers continue to cause comment.
Quality heavy steers, some grain and supplementary-fed, are selling from 200-225c/kg, but high quality vealers and lighter weight grain-finished cattle struggle to sell over 216c.kg.
There have been some severe frosts across Victoria, and the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) market reports said this affected quality.
This in turn is affecting prices, creating some of the mixed trends.
Most vealers of better quality are selling from 175-215c/kg, while plainer steers are selling anywhere between 160c/kg and 195c/kg with feedlots and restockers soaking up significant numbers.
Wagga is one of the best markets for reference of these cattle, selling more than 1500 yearling steers, of which 1100 were brought by feedlots and restockers mostly from 160-190c/kg.
More than 1100 heifers were also offered, and the lesser percentage brought to feed-on made 150-178c/kg.
As mentioned earlier, heavier trade cattle 480-600kg, are more preferred by buyers.
Prime bullocks sold mostly from 180-205c/kg, but competition for manufacturing cattle did improve at most sales, lifting prices.
Friesian steers and bullocks sold from 155-180c/kg, crossbred bullocks reached a high of 194c/kg, and grown heifers mostly 160-185c/kg.
The supply of cows eased slightly, and some prices increased accordingly.
However, the biggest discrepancy in prices was seen at cow sales.
One underlying factor could be that foetal blood has lifted to quite high levels, although finding out how much proves to be hard.
However, calves near to full-term could well return processors a lot of the purchase price.
Better quality beef cows sold mostly from 145-165c/kg with isolated sales a little higher.
Leaner 1 and 2 score cow prices showed some improvement with the poorest cows making 60-120c/kg.
Larger frame dairy cows made from 110-145c/kg, but prices varied from 5c/kg cheaper to 6c/kg dearer.
Stock & Land's market indicators showed cows were unchanged averaging 291c/kg carcase weight.
With the US grinding beef market running at high levels, bull prices have lifted too.
Depending on which market you were at, heavy B muscle bulls sold from 175-198c/kg.