TRENDS have been mixed across NSW prime cattle markets this week and not helped by the public holiday restricting trading on Monday.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator slipped to 478.50 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) by Tuesday evening, however many markets held on Tuesday recorded averages much higher than the EYCI.
It was about 9ckg cheaper than a week ago, but still 2c/kg dearer than a month ago, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
Young cattle sold at Carcoar, Gunnedah, Scone, Roma in Queensland, and Shepparton and Wodonga in Victoria all recorded an average price dearer than the EYCI. This trend indicates there's a big range in the prices for young cattle across the eastern states and without a break in the season the market may have further to fall.
Yearling steers bought by the processors were significantly dearer in the south of the state this week and averaged 308c/kg (liveweight). This compares with an average of 298c/kg for the same type of cattle in the Central West, 295c/kg for those sold in the Hunter, while there was no quote from MLA for cattle sold in northern NSW.
In line with trends in the store markets, restockers were also much more active at southern NSW sales and prepared to pay a higher price. Restocker yearling steers in the south averaged 305c/kg. This was nearly 70c/kg dearer than northern NSW, about 60c/kg more than the Central West and 90c/kg dearer than Hunter sales in the past week.
The market for vealer steers followed the trends of the yearlings. Vealer steers in the south where generally dearer averaging 296c/kg. Those sold in the Central West averaged 285c/kg, while northern and Hunter sales averaged 273c/kg.
Cow prices were much more stable this week with some northern NSW centres recording a dearer trend for the better conditioned lines.
Southern and central west NSW cow markets hit an average price of 187c/kg which was helped along by some additional restocker competition.
The average prices for cows in northern NSW was a tad below the state average at 177c/kg.
Cows remain the cheapest in the Hunter and averaged 175c/kg this week.