Grand final day holiday, Friday, and Labour Day holiday, Monday, took a few cattle off the market. No sale at Wagga Wagga initiated the main effect with Wodonga’s Barnawartha sale, Tuesday, showing a little improvement in number, and price.
The most interesting comment to come out of the Wodonga report was that of a Queensland buyer, who has been absent for a long time.
Does this indicate a lack of quality cattle in that state? Time will tell.
Generally, prices were firm to cheaper, although some of the cheaper prices were a catch up, compared to other markets.
One standout has been a further decline in cow prices this week.
One can really focus on markets held this Tuesday, as Pakenham and Ballarat were again very small and insignificant in the scheme things, quality wise.
Wodonga’s yarding of over 1800 head included some good quality again this week, which gave on of the few true measurables, week-on-week.
Prices for the best quality grain assisted yearling steers were up to 10 dearer, peaking at 278c/kg lwt.
Because Wagga Wagga had a holiday, better competition was seen at Wodonga, Tuesday, from feedlots and restockers.
Any improvements might only be short lived if the predicated rain for the end of this week does not occur.
Top quality vealers sold to 320c, but most sold from 285-300c/kg with some restocker competition improving.
Noted in the Shepparton report was that some sellers of grain-assisted cattle were not sold with producers not prepared to accept the low rates of 260-280c/kg.
Grown steer and bullock prices were steady to dearer for good quality, but the price range of 260-278c/kg is still below expectations.
Cow markets were interesting.
The absence of Wagga Wagga, Monday, left a hole for processors, and demand at Shepparton, Camperdown, Pakenham, and Naracoorte, was mostly dearer.
A few sales of exceptional quality European breed cows reached a top of 265c, selling from 245c/kg lwt.
Price averages for better quality beef cows lifted, mostly making from 220-240c, and averaging around 226c/kg lwt.
One can only guess that pre-weigh selling at Camperdown is affecting competition as prices there ranged from 112 to only 222c/kg for beef cows.
Naracoorte market was interesting as their cow numbers fell, and the quality at this sale is generally quite good.
The majority of the cows at Naracoorte are D3 and D4 beef cows, which this week sold from 217-230c, which was 3-11c/kg cheaper, bucking the general trend elsewhere.