The cattle market
Smaller yardings.
Cattle numbers fell at the SA LE, while Naracoorte’s retreated as well. However, Mt. Gambier numbers increased slightly after the week’s improved prices, while Millicent had a few more yarded for its fortnightly sale.
The SA LE’s mixed quality runs containing mainly young cattle sold to strong competition from the usual trade and processor buyers. Feeder orders were active albeit selectively with breed and quality attracting the strongest competition. A small number of vealer steers and heifers sold at dearer levels, with most light and medium weight yearling steers finishing with feeder orders.
Medium and heavy yearling steers to the trade were generally dearer. Lightweight yearling heifers sold mainly to feeder and restocker activity, with the C3 medium and heavyweights to the trade dearer.
Prices for the 2 to 4 score cows improved, albeit with 143¢/kg the top price.
Naracoorte’s and Mt. Gambier’s mixed quality yardings tended to sell at improved levels as most of the regular SA and Victorian trade and export buyers made purchases.
There were some excellent quality supplementary fed yearlings offered that sold to a peak of 238¢/kg for some medium weights.
Feeder and restocker orders were also very active on lightweight vealers and yearling steers at dearer levels.
Cow prices remained buoyant as most 2 to 5 scores sold from 130¢ to 165¢, with the 2 score and some 1 score beef cows attracting the dearest trend.
Millicent’s mixed quality yarding of mainly young cattle and cows sold to an increased number of the regular SA and Victorian buyers.
Fluctuating trends
There were fluctuating trends this week, with young cattle generally dearer, while the export categories tended to lose ground. Limited numbers of vealer steers to the trade sold from 186¢ to 234¢ to be unchanged to 11¢/kg cheaper.
Feeders and restockers secured the majority of C1 and C2 lightweight steers from 194¢ to 218¢ at prices 5¢ to 11¢/kg dearer. Limited sales of vealer heifers to the trade sold between 190¢ and 235¢, with C3 sales 10¢/kg dearer. The C2, C3 and B2 sales of yearling steers ranged from 175¢ to 238¢, with the 2 scores 7¢ cheaper and the balance unchanged to 16¢/kg dearer.
Feeders sourced increased numbers of C2 light and medium weight steers from 172¢ to 210¢, or from 2¢ to 9¢/kg more. Yearling C3 medium and heavy weight heifers sold between 170¢ and 234¢ at prices from 8¢ to 9¢/kg dearer.
Grown medium and heavy weight B2 and C3 steer sales sold from 170¢ to 205¢, or unchanged to 9¢ cheaper and generally from 335¢ to 355¢/kg cwt.
Beef D2 to C5 cows sold from 118¢ to 165¢ at prices unchanged to 3¢ cheaper albeit with some 2 scores being 19¢/kg dearer, as most cows sold from 275¢ to 325¢/kg cwt.
Source: MLA.com