Winter’s hot market still solid

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) now sits at just below 700 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) which is still more than 100c/kg higher than this time last year.

The feedlot operators continue to put a floor in the market, and this was particularly evident at many centres reported by the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS). 

NLRS reported at Dubbo last Thursday an additional feeder order, in competition with regular buyers, help keep the price trends solid. 

Likewise at Forbes on Monday, yearling steers going to the lot feeders were 8c/kg to 10c/kg dearer. 

A surge in supply at Wagga Wagga (up about 1000 head to a total offering of 3025) meant the bulk of the better young cattle were bought by restockers and feedlots.

But the bigger yarding did little to slow the price hike and young cattle averaged just over 700c/kg.

In regard to prices, the yarding at Tamworth on Monday was a standout as young cattle averaged nearly 30c/kg dearer to hit 688c/kg.

It’s a little different in the store cattle markets where winter sales are few and far between.

Now that the spring season is assured with plenty of green feed, quality breeding stock has become much harder to buy.

THE Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets (DRLM) have claimed another feather in its cap by winning the inaugural Animal Welfare in Saleyards and Lairages Award.

This award was presented last week at the Australian Livestock Markets Association National Saleyards Expo.

Western Plains Regional Council have reported the DRLM contributes some $75 million to the regional economy.

Council administrator Michael Kneipp said animal welfare was fundamental to the successful operation of a saleyards and the DRLM had demonstrated a commitment to best practice and promotion of the importance of animal welfare.

Judging criteria for the award included staff training and development, evidence of animal welfare policy and procedures, communication and implementation, water and feed, facilities and infrastructure and innovation.

Trade lamb prices just keep getting stronger even though we are only about a month from the official start of spring. 

Expectations of a softening market as a trickle of new season lambs enter the market, don’t appear to be taking affect just yet.

The Land’s Trade Lamb Indicator hit 644 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) on Monday night. 

This was a rise of about 26c/kg in the past week. 

Restocker lamb prices zoomed considerably higher in the past week to a top of 623c/kg. 

Mutton prices also climbed to 380c/kg in NSW.

A record volume of Australian grainfed beef was exported in 2015-16 at 267,578 tonnes (shipped weight) according to Meat and Livestock Australia. 

Dry conditions across most of the eastern states resulted in significant stock turnoff – to processors, live exporters and feedlots – and the consequent high number of cattle on feed clearly led to higher grainfed beef production.

Year-to-March feedlot marketings reached a record level – with 2.12 million head sold.

Harriet Forster from AuctionsPlus has reported that the supply of sheep and lambs on the selling system was tighter last week with just 18,284 head offered.

This was a slip of about 11,343 head on the week before.

“Considering supply had tightened significantly, demand was still red hot with a 92 per cent clearance rate across all sheep sales,” Ms Forster said.

Last week there was also a bigger transition from old to new lambs with more and more new season suckers hitting the market.