SALEYARDS appear to be the poor cousins, at least for trade and export cattle prices.
Processors are full of cattle and have weeks ahead already booked up, which means buyers are picking and choosing through the markets.
However questions are being asked as to whether this will change as rain soaks some of the most parched areas in northern Victoria, through to northern Queensland.
Across the Riverina, over the weekend, from Wodonga to Wagga Wagga, there was 25-105 millimetres of rain.
This, added to heavy rain in parts of New South Wales, aided stronger demand from feedlots, restockers and some live export competition.
The lions share of the vealers, yearling steers and heifers sold mostly to those seeking to on-feed cattle.
Price rises of 10-15 cents per kilogram liveweight were common across all lines.
Trade buyers were beaten down to just 15pc of the market and they too had to pay a higher price, or miss out.
Around the state vealer prices peak at 330c/kg with a higher price range of 290-320c/kg for the best quality calves.
Where vealers have not been plentiful (nor good enough) sales of grain supplemented steers and heifers have filled the orders.
At Swan Hill, two weeks ago steers sold to 300c/kg, and at Shepparton, Tuesday, supplementary fed yearlings sold between 280&295c/kg lwt.
Because of the variety, and mix of quality, cattle to turn out sold from 250-338c/kg lwt, depending also on buyer preference.
In southern markets, feeder competition was reduced, although processors purchased a mixture of short, and long term feeder steers.
Leading up to the last of the weaner calf sales of Myrtleford, the high country, and East Gippsland, the supply of bullocks is increasing.
Aided by a Queensland buyer at Barwartha this week, bullock prices were steady to a little dearer.
Supply across the major bullock fattening areas has lifted slightly and good quality cattle are still present.
Prices for bullocks 600-750kg have sold to 276c with many between 260-270c/kg.
However competition did differ between the markets and prices at Mortlake were cheaper.
A range of 243-258c was seen there which mirrored similar markets in the western districts and South Australia.
Most producers culling cows after the annual calf sales did so early, but supply was a little better this week.
The 90CL grinding beef price was steady at 601.6c/kg FAS, which gave light to solid demand for suitable cows.
Better quality beef cows sold from 205-229c/kg, a rise of up to 13c/kg in places. Very poor quality cows sold from 80c to 165c/kg.
