There was a sharp increase in cattle supply in the lead up to two short working weeks.
Northern NSW producers continued to offload cows in large numbers, but vealers and yearlings were also well supplied.
At some centres, such as Armidale last Thursday, the bounce in cow supply was due to producers offloading their core breeders.
All up at Armidale there were 2615 head offered and all the regular buyers were present plus some additional restocker competition.
About 715 cows were offered and most tipped the scales at more than 400kg selling from about 100c/kg to 216c/kg according to NLRS figures. Most vealer steers and heifers were lightweight - 200kg to 280kg C1 vealer steers sold from 176c/kg to 280c/kg. Yearling heifers were in big numbers and C2 feeders, 330kg to 400kg sold from 228c/kg to 265c/kg.
By the time Monday rolled around the supply of cattle at saleyards really picked up.
At Tamworth 3773 head were offered and more than 1000 of those were cows. The C2 vealers 200kg to 280kg sold from 205c/kg to 290c/kg, while C2 yearlings 330kg to 400kg sold from 238c/kg to 306c/kg. Most of the D2 cows 400kg to 520kg sold from 137c/kg to 218c/kg, while heavier C3 lines made 185c/kg to 237c/kg.
A bigger yarding of 3460 cattle was offered at Gunnedah and there was a wide range in the quality. The C2 vealers 200kg to 280kg sold from 210c/kg to 288c/kg, while C2 feeder yearlings 330kg to 400kg sold from 230c/kg to 301c/kg. Grown heifers to restockers sold for 160c/kg to 265c/kg. Most of the D2 cows 400kg to 520kg sold from 136c/kg to 180c/kg, while heavier D3 lines made 188c/kg to 237c/kg.
Numbers were up 25pc at Inverell and a large part of the offering were plainer conditioned cows, with restockers taking the main thrust of numbers, up to 30pc of the yarding according the NLRS. All up 2762 cattle were offered. Vealers varied with competition spread across the feeders, restockers and processors. The 200kg to 280kg vealers sold from about 200c/kg to 280c/kg. Yearling heifers were plentiful and 280kg to 330kg C2s bought by feedlots made 180c/kg to 261c/kg. Light cows topped at 171, but there were plenty under 100c/kg, while 400kg to 250kg lines made 156c/kg to 208c/kg.
Lehman Stock and Property principal, Ben Lehman, Inverell, said many of the cows sold were going to processors rather than back to the paddock.
"There were a few sold to the Goondiwindi area which will go back in the paddock, but most are being bought by the processors," Mr Lehman said.
"Not all of those to the processors are being slaughtered now though, some are being put on feed."
Meanwhile, at Casino on Wednesday the yarding lifted by 324 head to 2124 mixed quality cattle.
This was due to there being no sale for the next two weeks, with Easter and Anzac Day. General market trends were cheaper, although the penning presented some very good grain assisted lines according to the NLRS interim report. The better drafts of these cattle made to 254c/kg.
