AS EXPECTED the supply of cattle into the usual Monday and Tuesday markets was heavily reduced due to time constraints of Christmas.
Processors are managing their individual works to be closed by Thursday evening, or Friday lunchtime, and for processors that have bodies to be boned out, they need to consider their slaughter timetable.
Despite the limited supply, or maybe because of it, some processors did not attend some of their regular markets. However, the competition that was available aided a lift in prices for most classes of cattle, sold on the only two days of trading this week.
A standout increase was the prices for top quality vealers. Last Wednesday, at Warragul and other later sales, prices for these vealers dropped up to 20 cents per kilogram liveweight.
It was most notable at Warragul as they had been running at the top of the price range for vealers compared to other markets. However, part of the price reduction there, was due to a big increase in those top quality calves.
Therefore it is interesting that the drop in supply just five days later creates a return to higher prices. Many of the B muscle European breed vealers weighed from 360-450kgs. This week prices ranged between 340&375c/kg lwt.
Interestingly, because of the very good season, there are fewer vealers weighing below 340kgs, and may of these are being sold at store sales because of the price differences.
This saw the best competition occur for the lighter weight vealers with prices ranging from 355-375c/kg for slaughter, and up to 417c/kg from restockers. Store markets were still dearer than physical sales.
Price increases occurred in grown steer and bullock sales too with the small selection of prime bullocks reaching 315c/kg at Wodonga, Tuesday.
However, meat is meat, and there was prices recorded for grown heifers equal to those of bullocks.
Yearling heifer prices improved, although this was less noticeable by price range, but more by averages, which were 5-10c/kg higher.
Wagga Wagga was the largest market reported by MLA this week, agents offering 1500 head. Many of these were vealers, and yearling steers and heifers. The usual occurrence was for most to go to restockers with feedlot buyers accumulating most of the balance.
All other markets, going back as far as last Thursday, tendered 500 head or less.
The supply of cows was well back by comparison to the previous week, and equally as a percentage of the market.
However, there was only minor movements in price here with some of the diminished competition due only to the constraints of Christmas.
Most of the better quality beef cows sold from 235-265c, although there were some isolated sales a little higher. Lean cows were harder to find with the good season having some effect. Beef cows being culled after the weaning process are in great stead, and dairy cows numbers are generally lower at this time of year.
