The Tamworth yarding dropped by 973 to 1357 this week with a good supply of young cattle plus cows and plain conditioned grown heifers, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
Increased demand and improvements in quality saw steer vealers to restockers sell to dearer trends of 14 cents a kilogram. Breed was a factor in the better prices. Heifer vealers to restock and feed also sold to dearer trends, up by 5c/kg to 15c/kg, again with stronger demand. Increased competition and stronger demand saw medium and heavy weight yearling steers to feed sell to a dearer trend of 6c/kg to 9c/kg, with breed and quality lifting some averages further.
Restocker steer weaners, muscle score C with fat score 2, 200-280kg, averaged 263.9c/kg, up 13c/kg on the week before, bringing $668 and reaching a top of $787.
Weaner heifers of the same type going the same way averaged 224.5c/kg, up 7c/kg to bring $544 topping at $632.
Yearling steers going on feed, 330-400kg, C2, averaged 287.9c/kg, up 28c/kg to bring $1047 peaking at $1221. A pen of similar heifers averaged 246c/kg, up 5c/kg to bring $846.
A small number of grown heifers, C2, went to feed for an average price of 186.7c/kg, up 7c/kg, to bring $668 and reaching a top of $902.
The yarding at Armidale prime cattle sale last Thursday was back almost by half to 840 with plain quality and condition the norm with the usual buyers attending. There were a number of grown heifers penned but limited supplies of good quality forward condition young cattle available, the MLA reported.
Market trends through the young cattle were mostly dearer. Steer vealers to restock saw breed contribute to some significant price change to the positive. An improved quality penning of heifer vealers suitable to the trade sold to a dearer trend of as much as 35c/kg. There were a small number of very well finished vealers suitable to the local butchers that attracted very strong competition, lifting prices sharply.
Heifer vealers to restock and feed also sold to dearer trends, however improvement was not as great.
Vealer steers to restockers, 200-280kg, C1, averaged 253.9c/kg, up 58c/kg on the week prior, to bring $568 topping at $625. Same weight vealer heifers, C2, also going to the processors, averaged 188c/kg or $492. Heavier heifers, 280-330, C2, going on feed, averaged 221.4c/kg.
Yearling steers going on feed, 330-400kg, C2, averaged 247c/kg, down 6c/kg, to bring $867.
Singleton yarded a similar number of cattle this week at 860 head with the majority of younger drafts suitable for restocker and feeder orders, said MLA.
Vealer steers to retockers, 200-280kg, C2, averaged 268c/kg, back 6c/kg on the week before to bring $666 topping at $783. Vealer heifers of the same type averaged 208c/kg, back 26c/kg, to bring $484 and reaching a top of $659.
Yearling steers, 330-400kg, C2, going on feed averaged 279.7c/kg, up 6c/kg on last week, bringing $1031. Yearling heifers of the same averaged 223.9c/kg, up 6c/kg.
