Yardings draw strong competition as feedlots, restockers chase stock

Keen interest from northern restockers, feedlots and processors has triggered a welcome price revival in livestock markets. See the latest.

Cattle and lamb prices shook off their autumn blues for a pre-Easter surge this week, with jumps of 100c/kg in places on feeder steers and up to $20 a head on some trade lambs.

The National Livestock Reporting Service said cattle prices rose up to 15c/kg at Wagga Wagga in NSW on Monday, on the back of restocker demand from the north and keen interest from lotfeeders.

Feeder steers surged 100c/kg on the previous market, fetching 366-392c/kg.

Heifers were more variable, with trade types declining in price but feeders lifting up to 46c/kg on lighter types.

The better prime cattle results come on the back of a welcome lift in store values last week, with auctions at major saleyards at Mortlake and Leongatha both showing price rises.

Elders Leongatha livestock manager Michael Foote said prices hit 400c/kg liveweight for one annual draft of Angus weaners, but there was a general rise of 10-20c/kg.

Mr Foote said feedlot buyers were particularly active, and restocker competition from further north added to the mix.

“I had an order for cattle to go to central NSW to fill, and all that kind of thing helps,” Mr Foote said.

“What it does show is when you yard quality cattle, the buyers will come.”

At Mortlake last week prices were, in places, $200 above expectations.

And in the sheep and lamb market, at Bendigo on Monday there were 3000 fewer ahead of the Easter break, with lamb numbers down to 13,774 and sheep, 4600.

The lamb market was dearer by $10 to $20 over heavy and trade slaughter lambs, although in carcass price terms, NLRS reported the sale did not hit the highs recorded at Wagga Wagga late last week.

The standout price improvers in the Bendigo market were the light and secondary lambs in the 15-20kg bracket, with some of the MK type categories up $25 and more on a week ago.

However, after a strong opening buyers eased back a bit as the sale progressed, the NLRS reported.

Meanwhile, in Tasmania, Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Bridgewater livestock manager George Nichols said last week’s weaner calf sale at Powranna again had half the yarding knocked down to the mainland as Tasmania continues to struggle with dry conditions.