- Market firmer across all sections
- Supply increased but seasonally light
- Qld Slaughter info dispute remains unresolved
PRIME cattle prices continued to reclaim ground lost over the late winter and early spring trading period, with averaged values another 5-15 cents a kilogram higher than this time a week ago.
This is the second successive rise of this magnitude and returns Eastern states indicators back to the levels of nine weeks ago when markets was in free fall.
One of the main reason behind the claw-back is the limited supply being offered, with this week’s supply numbers being one of smallest mid-October presentations of the past decade.
While the increase was mostly been across the board the greatest lift in value was reported for restocker and feeder animals as a result of northern rains, and the drying out of the season of the southern finishing regions.
This was the case at Wagga Wagga on Monday where the official report said feeders were out in force and restocker interests from the north were punting the follow-up rainfall to kick-start pasture growth.
Across northern Victoria supply were lifted to the Wodonga and Shepparton saleyards. Both claimed a diminished supply of supplimentary fed stock was included but mostly cattle finished on grass filled the pens.
Milk-fed vealers at Wodonga were sold at the higher money from 290 to 322c/kg lwt. Yearling trade steers made 266-302-cents while yearling trade heifers made 266-286c/kg. Bullocks and heavy steers also met a superior demand making 280-294c/kg as an increased following of export and domestic processors chested the rail. At Shepparton a quality display of grown steers and bullocks offered plenty of weight and condition, with the former sold from 262-288c while bullocks above 600kg live made to 286c/kg.
Quality of the trade cattle however was mixed with best vealers sold to 330c/kg while trade yearling steers made to 301 cents and averaged 293c/kg. Cows sold at Shepparton met a firm to dearer market with heavy dairy cows sold from 196-226c while beef cows made 223-246c to average 238c/kg for the D4 portion.
Further south Pakenham numbers although increased remain unusually slight for the time of year. With 380 export and 350 young cattle penned, usual buyers pushed trade cattle prices 5-10c/kg higher and export sales by 2-3-cents.
Vealers made to 339c/kg, trade steers, 285-330c/kg and trade heifers 262-295c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks made 265-290c/kg while manufacturing grades made 235-276c/kg. Pakenham heavy cows sold Tuesday averaged 244c/kg lwt.