Weekly east coast cattle slaughter numbers for the period ending May 5 were up from the previous week as processors increased activity after the shortened Easter and Anzac Day periods.
Weekly numbers rose 14.5 per cent to just more than 125,000 head, not far off peak slaughter levels in March.
After a spike in throughput along east coast saleyards last week, producers responded to the softer price pattern with an 13.5 per cent fall in yardings noted and 60,332 head changing hands.
There were marginal declines for eastern young/store cattle. The EYCI was down 1.5 per cent to 634¢/kg cwt. Nationally, trade steers were less than 1 per cent softer (345¢/kg lwt), feeder steers fell 1.8 per cent (342¢/kg lwt) and medium cows 2.1 per cent (216¢/kg lwt).
More moderate falls were reserved for the heavier end.
