Market Talk - Cattle in demand as the rain arrives

ANOTHER positive week with most cattle prices showing some improvement after some good rains statewide and more rain in the North on Monday where there were falls of 20-25mm.

Last week agents yarded 1543 store cattle at Powranna and for this time of year I thought it was a good line-up although lacking weight.

The market improved $50 to $150/head (and a little more in places) on the May sale with good lines of well-bred cattle keenly sought.

Heavy yearling steers (400+ kg) made $1680 to $1920 (av. 390c), medium (330-400 kg) $1020 to $1620 (390c) and light $980 to $1200.

Medium weight weaner steers (280-330 kg) made $800 to $1420 (380c), light (200-280 kg) $600 to $1060 (390c) and very small $660 to $760 (440c).

Heavy yearling heifers made $1500 to $1840, medium $940 to $1360 (330c) and light $780 to $980.

Medium weaner heifers made $500 to $840, light $680 to $970 (320c) and very light $460 to $640 (380c).

Buyers came from all over the state with some not seen in these yards for a long time indicating that many finishers sold cattle recently for pretty reasonable money and need to replenish their paddocks in preparation for the spring.

Interstate store cattle markets continue to improve with most of the Victorian cattle heading north and in some cases into Queensland.

Last week at Leongatha they yarded just over 5000 store cattle and the market was quoted up to $300 dearer on most feeder cattle with all the big boys like JBS, Teys and Thomas Foods looking for their share with weight and then commission buyers looked for lighter cattle destined for Northern NSW and Queensland.

Interstate prime cattle markets continue to trade sideways with the general thought that there will be a shortage of finished cattle come August/September which may make things a bit interesting!

The lamb market ended last week on record highs and nothing changed early this week with Bendigo, Dubbo and Ballarat all quoting record markets.

At Ballarat there were a number of pens over $400/head to a top of $424.

Obviously these extreme prices will put pressure on the customer side and I am already hearing local butchers are cut ting back on lambs.

Over the next few weeks some big abattoirs will take a maintenance break and/or cut a shift or two.

Watch this space.