The Swan Hill prime cattle market on Thursday (July 10) comprised a good quality yarding with a total of 2100 head.
The regular group of processor and feedlot buyers were active plus a gallery of producers who were trying to secure feeder and store cattle, as well as the cows and calves on offer.
Prime quality bullocks and grain fed cattle from 500 to 650 kilograms were of plainer quality and in reduced numbers. Most grain fed cattle fetched 210-225 cents/kg liveweight, to be 5 to 10c/kg dearer than the sale a fortnight ago.
An exceptional yarding of trade steers 350-500kg saw prices between 210-230c/kg while heifers sold at 185 to 215c/kg. There were many more vealers on offer and the quality was once again exceptional resulting in much stronger demand to be 10 to 12c/kg dearer selling to a top price of 228c/kg.
Only a handful of cows were present with rates remaining firm and heavy cow prices ranging between 132-148c/kg.
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Large consignments of store cattle were yarded. These sold to steady competition with the better bred of the 196 steers yarded selling between 180-200c/kg with plainer bred steers mostly 140-170c/kg. A pen of four Angus steers, average weight 248kg, achieved the top store sale price at 200c/kg, or the equivalent of $496/head.
There were fewer heifers on offer and these sold to limited competition between 130 to 155c/kg.
There were 54 cows and calves on offer these sold to strong demand selling to a top price $865 per outfit for a pen of three Red Angus cows each with a calf-at-foot, with most making between $800 and $850 per outfit.
Jason Morrison of BR&C Agents said many of the store cattle came from Ivanhoe, NSW and Cameron Corner, Queensland.
Those from the Cameron Corner that were sold in store sale were a bit of a mixed line of cattle with some being of lighter condition.
Read the full report in next week's Stock & Land.
