Although there were few sweet spots at any prime markets this week, one stand-out was a jump in price for vealers at Pakenham.
Topping at 336c/kg, and many selling between 290c and 328c/kg, buyers appreciated the excellent quality offered.
The supply of vealers has been very late coming in Gippsland, and coupled with the late, but very good season, some calves, 10-12 months, are weighing up to 500 kilograms.
However, that is where the fairytale ends, as most other classes of cattle, including vealers at other markets, all sold to weaker trends.
Having said this, Pakenham, on Monday, also had the best of the competition for bullocks with most prime C muscle bullocks, 600-750kgs, selling from 265-271c/kg.
This was quite a few cents better than other markets, which generally recorded prices for similar bullocks, making form 245-264c/kg.
Price averages were mainly around 258c/kg lwt, but some reports did quote varying quality, creating varying dressing percentages.
Nearly all markets recorded a lift in supply, with Wagga Wagga yarding close to 3400-head.
I have said before that this market offers a large number of yearling steers, which sell mostly to feedlots and restockers.
MLA’s market report recorded 1277 yearling steers, and only three of these went for slaughter.
There is strong competition at Wagga Wagga for turn out steers and heifers, along with other markets at Wodonga and Shepparton. Prices varied greatly between 264-319c/kg lwt.
It is fair to point out that because of high quality, and the season, weights are being noted up to 800kgs, and equaling over $2000/head.
This is aiding some of the strong competition at the annual calf sales.
Bullock supply is generally light, but I was told that many have been sold direct over the three-week period relating to Christmas and New Year.
One consistent trend seen at all markets was a further weakening in demand for cows.
Supply is not overly heavy, but prices fell another 2-12c/kg lwt.
Both Naracoorte and Pakenham had very good quality yardings of beef cows, and many of these sold from 200-238c/kg.
However elsewhere, prices failed to reach over 220c, and many of the plainer condition dairy cows sold from 114-165c/kg.
Noted at Camperdown’s sale on Tuesday, there were very poor quality, light weight cows sold from 45-65c/kg.
The current value of the Australian Dollar against the US Dollar, 79.3c, is not helping export processors.