After predicted heavy rain over the weekend, which saw some of the best falls in the north east of Victoria and the Riverina, NSW, supply was heavily affected not only in Wagga Wagga but some other markets too.
Restocker activity was stronger with some major numbers purchased out of Wodonga, Shepparton, and definitely Wagga Wagga.
Almost 1000 fewer cattle came forward at Wagga Wagga, over 800 of these were yearling steers. Restocker demand improved. Prices were reported to be 8-20 cents per kilogram higher for steers, selling up to 416c for steer vealers, and mostly between 350&395c/kg for steers.
Interestingly, most of the market reports are sighting better quality, and while in the case of Wagga Wagga, the big drop in numbers aided this. However, Shepparton with equal supply, and Wodonga offering more cattle, the comments were the same.
Some of this is being driven by grain fed and grain assisted cattle, which in these two markets, prices have been mostly from 350-378c/kg, and the few top quality vealers were the only cattle to top this, selling to 392c/kg lwt.
Most of the weekend was sunny and warm in Gippsland, which normally sees an increase in numbers on Mondays. However, Pakenham agents yarded only 820 cattle, 200 less. Camperdown was also quieter.
This overall drop in supply did lift competition with more buyers in most markets.
Medium and heavy steers, and heifers, sold to stronger trade competition, increasing prices mostly from 3-8c, but some sales were up to 15c/kg higher. Grown steers sold from 310-345c, and some very good sales were noted of grown heifers. Depending on weight and age, prices for these heifers ranged from 280-325c/kg lwt.
Bullock supply is settling into a winter mode with only smaller numbers offered ant many sales. Only Leongatha and Narracoorte offering reasonable supply. Good quality bullocks are selling from 305-332c, and heavy manufacturing bullocks are selling up to 312c/kg lwt.
Noted at this weeks sales were a few pens of good quality Friesian bullocks that sold from 255-278c/kg lwt.
A big drop in the supply of cows lifted demand, and prices were generally up to 12c/kg higher. This saw a run of cows make from 252-276c/kg.
Depending on which market you were at, lean cows sold to differing trends. Most were dearer, from 180-232c, but quotes of up to 5c/kg cheaper were noted at some sales.
I want to talk about bulls, or a bull, as I saw a traditional, old Hereford bull sell for 292c/kg at Pakenham, Tuesday. All estimates of weight were out, as he weighed 1325 kilograms, equaling $3868.