Best of yearlings sell well

LAST week we saw the second store cattle sale for October at Powranna where agents yarded 1,258 head of mainly yearling cattle. 

The lead runs had weight and breed and sold very well although there were some smaller lines of crossbreds near the end of the sale. Competition came from the North East, North West and Northen Midlands plus a couple of interstate orders that took about 25 per cent of the total.

Heavy yearling steers (400 + kg) made $1,980 to $2,300 (505c), medium (330-400 kg) $1,620 to $2,160 (520c) and light (200-330 kg) $1,320 to $1,820 (560c). 

The heavy heifers sold for $1,600 to $1,960 (430c), medium $1,420 to $1,920 (450c) and light $920 to $1450 (440c).

 There were 40 cows and calves and the best made $2,300 to $2,700 and the seconds made $1,000 to $1,700 per unit. 

There was a big run of cows and calves bought to go to Victoria.

 The reports from the Victorian buyers are that their seasons are looking good right across the state and while that continues they can’t see prices of both lambs and cattle easing any time soon.

The National Indicator for restocking steers has reached an average of 580c/kg live which is easily the highest level for the last 12 months and $1/kg higher than this time last year.

It is a similar situation with the restocking heifers that are getting close to 500c/kg which is more than $1/kg higher than November last year. 

Over the past week or two most trade cattle and grown steer prices have held at recent quotes while cow prices have shown some improvement. 

Lamb and mutton prices continue to show no signs of easing although more lamb numbers over the next month may make things interesting. 

Locally we are seeing very strong lamb markets with the best new lambs at Powranna on Wednesday making $300 to $322 and trade weights $230 to $318.

Light lambs are creating strong interest from restockers both local and interstate with the best making $188 to $220 and small $142 to $178/head. Many of these small lambs are very young and so an excellent result for the sellers.

Fewer lambs yarded

There was a slightly smaller yarding of 918 lambs at Powranna on Wednesday with a bigger percentage of light and light trade pens destined to go back to the paddock.

The best new seasons lambs made $300 to $322 and trade $230 to $318. 

Restockers paid $198 to $220 for the best light trade lambs and $142 to $178 for small lambs. The few old lambs sold very well with heavy pens making $302 to $364 and trade $214 to $280/head.

There was also a smaller number of 1,259 mutton (199 less) and all sheep met a very strong market with extra heavy sheep making $260 to $290, heavy $240 to $274, medium $158 to $282 and light $144 to $194/head.

There was a better quality yarding of 126 trade and export cattle with about one third being cows.

The better selection of trade cattle allowed buyers to ease prices by 10c to 15c on average with yearling steers making 436c to 452c and heifers 402c to 450c/kg. 

There was a good selection of 40 cows and the best cows improved 5c with most heavy beef cows making 330c to 388c while leaner types made 300c to 310c/kg liveweight.