The countdown is on for the end of the NSW weaner cattle selling season and restockers are racing to fill their orders where they can, including from the prime markets.
The NSW Restocker Yearling Steer Indicator dropped 36.4 cents a kilogram on Monday to land at 608.6c/kg. However, many centres reported firm to dearer trends for young cattle.
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Heifer prices lifted 30c/kg at Casino last week, pushed up by restocker interests in the state's west despite an injection of young cattle to the market according to the National Livestock Reporting Service. There were 891 young cattle offered of the total Casino yarding of 1444.
Bishop and Company agent Gary Jarrett, Casino, said although young cattle were still coming in, buyers knew supply could run out shortly.
"A lot of people are selling early because the money is good," Mr Jarrett said.
He said people were purchasing on a dollars a head basis, with vealers attracting "unbelievable" prices, up to 708c/kg last week.
"They want to buy cattle for X amount of dollars, so they are just paying a lot more for lighter cattle to try and get something in their price bracket," he said.
"A lot of cattle making $1200 wouldn't have made $200 when things were tough 18 months ago."
Barlow and Peadon Schute Bell agent, Angus Barlow, Dubbo, said Angus steers weighing 350kg made 560c/kg at Dubbo's prime sale last Thursday.
"They made more money than what they would have done at the Friday store sale," Mr Barlow said.
"Anything coming in under 350kg, especially Angus, are creating a stir."
Meanwhile, Victorian buyers looking for trade cattle were already migrating north. "They're starting a little bit earlier than what they usually do up here," Mr Barlow said.
The Dubbo yarding dropped by 306 head to sit at 2010 last week and Mr Barlow predicted numbers in the coming weeks would be dependent on the weather.
"If it doesn't rain shortly and we have an onset of cold and frosty weather, combined with depleted cereal hay supply due to mice infestation, it would be fair to predict higher volumes of cattle numbers entering the market place."
NLRS put a slight rise in numbers at Wagga Wagga (to 3364) down to a combination of dry conditions and strong prices on Monday. Elders agent Declan Haines, Wagga Wagga, said prices for restocker cattle were firm, with steers making 480c/kg to 600c/kg and heifers attracting 488c/kg to 520c/kg.
"Anything that can be put back out to the paddock are attracting a high price," Mr Haines said.
"There's restocker cattle going down to Ballarat and up north - we're seeing a lot of variety on who's purchasing week to week."
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