Most national cattle indicators are trending sideways as east coast throughput and slaughter go largely unchanged. The EYCI recorded a mere 0.3 per cent gain to close at 651.75¢/kg cwt.
East coast slaughter for the week ending May 19 recorded a marginally softer result at 132,392 head. Most east coast states registered a decline in slaughter, although NSW slaughter still peaked for the season with 32,268 head. Seasonal declines should follow, as supply tightens into winter.
Most national categories of cattle price movements were pretty uneventful.
National medium steers closed 4.6 per cent softer to 292¢/kg lwt, Queensland medium steers were unchanged at 286¢ and NSW/Victorian medium steers were 2-3 per cent softer. South Australian medium steers fell 14.9 per cent to 294¢/kg lwt.