Supply and seasonal changes determine trends
Northern regions continue to roll out the dearest cattle prices thanks to season and restocking influences, while in Victoria this week’s saleyard trading patterns were disrupted by the Melbourne Cup public holiday.
CATTLE prices continue to be influenced by supply and seasonal conditions, with the best rates earlier this week once again reported out of NSW.
In Victoria the Melbourne Cup public holiday distorted patterns, with saleyard numbers affected as producers avoided selling on a short week and not all buyers operating.
There were only 504 cattle yarded at Pakenham on Monday — 220 less than a week ago — with the best young vealers and yearlings selling firm to slightly better to reach a top of 462c/kg liveweight for a milk steer.
In the Western District there were 665 cattle at Mortlake and price results were mixed.
Contrast this with Wagga Wagga and Tamworth in NSW on the same day, where the season and restocker demand adding pressure to feedlots and processors continues to drive the market.
At Wagga Wagga the main run of heavy feeder steers, 400kg plus, gained 10c to average 419c/kg or $1882 over a weight of 448kg.
The top price was 443c/kg, which pushed some pens over $2000.
Feeder heifers of the same grade improved by 15c/kg to average 403c/kg as they stepped closer to steer values. In dollar terms they averaged $1720.
There was a consistently dearer trend for heifers reported in NSW early this week as buyers moved to this category to shore-up supplies.
The NLRS also reported some good price gains for young cattle at Tamworth, with the 400kg plus feeder steers averaging 424c/kg liveweight at the centre.
Some of the light weight calves to restockers at Tamworth jumped by more than 20c to sit above 500c/kg.
A breakdown of price by state shows northern regions tracking ahead of the south for young cattle.
Prices are more closely aligned for heavy export stock such as cows and bullocks.
The latest NLRS reported price averages by state for young cattle were:
NSW: restocking yearling steers 488c/kg lwt; feeder steers 426c/kg; and steers to processors 434c/kg.
VICTORIA: restocking yearling steers 377c/kg; feeder steers 407c/kg; and steers to processors 391c/kg.
However, there was only a few cents difference between regions for export grade cattle.
As an example, heavy steers are currently listed at 377c/kg in NSW and 376c/kg in Victoria.
There were less than 50 grown steers at Pakenham this week, with the few genuine bullocks over 600kg making from 374c to 386c/kg lwt.
That was consistent with the results for similar grade steers sold at Wagga Wagga which made from 371c to 384c/kg.
The best slaughter cows continue to be in demand despite not all exporters being active in early trading this week.
The main run of 192 heavy beef cows at Wagga Wagga made from 292c-320c/kg to average 315c/kg to be quoted as 3c dearer.
The average dollar per head result was $2182 across an average cow weight of 692kg.
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