The running of the Melbourne Cup – which reportedly stops a nation – certainly had its effects on supply numbers offered at prime cattle markets this week.
With sale numbers checked by 25 per cent overall and some sales canceled on the day pickings at the regular markets were considerably slimmer
Rightly so, given the public holiday darkened a number of the state’s meatworks on the day.
However, the slowdown in supplies brought limited relief with main markets edging back several cents week on week.
At the state’s northern border supplies offered at NVLX Barnawartha were actually lifted by 100, to 1700 head resulting in a mixed bag of trends.
Best vealers were priced firm at 357-417c/kg lwt as were trade steers selling to a top of 361c/kg, average 341.
But from there trends were negative.
Heifers lost a further 10 cents making 300-357, with most sales around 316c while feeder heifers lost 17c overall.
Bullock and heavy steers rates were also chiseled 8 to 10c to make 280-329c/kg.
Further north at Wagga Wagga, NSW on Monday supply was also steady but falls of 6-13c fell on cows, grass heifers and with bullocks most affected.
Vealers and trade managed firm rates, selling mostly at 320-365c and topping at 376c/kg.
Cow sales averaged 240c/kg while heavy heifers made 280-325c.
At Pakenham a miserly 336 cattle came forward for the Monday trade and export sale while the Tuesday cow market fell idle.
Prices were mostly firm on this small number with sold from 358-405c, yearling steers to 362c while made 305-318c/kg.
Meanwhile Tuesday at Shepparton saw numbers halved, and with not all buyers present another mixed bag of trends resulted.
Vealers and trade steers re-discovered firm money but other sales drifted with bullock and heavy steer values back 7-11c.
Beef cow prices were rated dearer, making 236-256c/kg lwt but plainer dairy cow values were five cents cheaper.
To the west and at Naracoorte supply eased slightly with some excellent quality vealers offered.
Steer vealer rates were lifted to 370-388c/kg while heifers made 322-376c/kg and won the support of restockers to 340c.
Yearling steers to the trade made 310-360c/kg which was slight easing on three cents off prior rates.
Eastern states slaughter activity meanwhile display the first true signs of increase during this past week with production level almost five percent higher.
The largest increase was made in Tasmania up (13pc), NSW (12pc) and SA (7pc) while Qld numbers topped 70,000 for the time since July rising 3pc as a number of major plant returned to full working weeks.
In Victoria, however, production levels remain stable with a reported kill of 19,607 (source NLRS) for the week end October 28.
For the month beef cattle produced were five higher than September but lag 34pc well below the production levels of October 2015.
