Good numbers of quality store cattle

Last week agents yarded 1,504 store cattle at Powranna in the July store sale.

Numbers were good for this time of the year and in general the quality was also good for the time of the year. 

Although few big lines, there were many lines of well-bred yearlings and weaners that attracted strong competition although I think some were predicting a bit dearer market. 

There was no interstate competition (compared to the June sale when about 20 per cent went out) and limited interest from the far North West Coast which is one of our big cattle producing areas of the state.

Heavy yearling steers (400 + kg) made $2,020 to $2,350 (av. 500c), medium (330-400 kg) $1,760 to $2,000 (530c) and light (200-330 kg) $1,520 to $1,900 (600c). 

The best steer weaners made $1,540 to $1,920 (600c), light $1,320 to $1,760 (635c) and very small $1,020 to $1,500 (700c). 

Heavy yearling heifers made $1,860 to $2,260 (470c), medium $1,720 to $1,940 (490c) and light $1,400 to $1,600 (515c). Medium weight heifer weaners made $1,340 to $1,600, light $1,020 to $1,500 (540c) and very small $800 to $1,100 (570c).

The best cows and calves made $2,500 to $2,900 and the majority of the empty cows made $2,000 to $3,150 and were mainly bought by processors.

This sale certainly showed that there is plenty of confidence around the cattle industry and at the moment over-the-hooks prices for farm assured cattle are sitting at very good levels and so producers selling at the moment have got a good bank to be able to buy replacements. 

Obviously the season both here and interstate is going to play a major role going forward but at the moment the seasons through Eastern Australia are looking pretty good.

Lamb and mutton prices have taken a bit of a breather with both categories easing $10 to $20/head over the last ten days. 

There are very few new seasons lambs coming forward in the early markets but one would think that we will see some fairly soon. And then it will be a matter of how many early lambs we see and whether prices stay at these current levels. 

Mutton supply is very light on and won’t change until lambs are weaned and cast-for-age ewes are sold. 

This will be a very interesting space to watch over the next three months.

Strong bids for best lambs

THERE was a smaller yarding of 922 lambs (351 less) at Powranna on Tuesday in a market that saw the very best lambs sell to strong competition but lighter store types lost most of last week’s gains. Heavy lambs made $312 to $350 and trade $250 to $270. 

Restockers paid $190 to $226 for light trade and $140 to $166 for light lambs. There was another very small number of 285 mutton with heavy sheep making $260 to $262, heavy $220 to $240 and medium $182 to $226/head. 

There were a few very light sheep bought by restockers from $110 to $125.

THESE was a similar number of 69 trade and grown cattle with a few under half being cows. 

The trade market was again strong although the seconds were slightly cheaper with most yearling steers making 450c to 504c and heifers 480c to 496c.

 The few grown steers made 432c to 458c/kg. There was a smaller yarding of 31 cows and the best heavy cows were dearer while secondary types were 15c to 30c cheaper. 

Heavy beef cows made 410c to 415c, leaner 330c to 370c and very lean 305c to 330c/kg liveweight.