Friday daily cattle summary

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Throughput at Roma Prime lifted four-fold, to 855 head, after last week’s rain induced small yarding. There were limited grown steers and bullocks offered and cows made up the majority. Light (0-540kg) D4 grown heifers to slaughter averaged 221¢, selling from 213¢ to 230¢/kg. Medium D3 cows improved 15¢, averaging 196¢ and selling to a top of 210¢, while heavy D4 lines gained 9¢, averaging 218¢ and peaking at 228¢/kg.

Consignments to Dubbo more than doubled, at 2,750 head, but were down on the expected draw due to good rain across the supply region over the past two days. Quality improved in what was a dearer market. EYCI eligible cattle lifted 19.49¢/kg cwt, to average 562.38¢/kg cwt – the dearest of all markets this week. Heavy C3 yearling feeder steers jumped 18¢, averaging 311¢ and selling to 322¢, while the same lines to the trade gained 12¢, averaging 311¢/kg. Heavy C3 yearling heifers to feeder buyers eased 2¢, averaging 292¢, while lines to slaughter improved 7¢, averaging 299¢/kg. Heavy C4 grown steers improved 6¢, averaging 301¢, and heavy D4 cows to slaughter gained 11¢, averaging 224¢/kg.

Bairnsdale yarded 986 head, up 34% week-on-week, and quality was mixed, with cattle showing the effects of winter. All the regular buyers were operating in a dearer market. Heavy D3 yearling heifers to the trade jumped 26¢, averaging 287¢ and selling to a top of 298¢/kg. Heavy D3 grown steers to processors gained 21¢, averaging 307¢, while heavy D3 cows jumped 36¢, averaging 243¢/kg.

At the close of Thursday’s markets, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) finished at 513.00¢, up 4.00¢/kg cwt on the previous day and the highest value on record. Trade steers improved 4¢, to 304¢, and feeder steers gained 2¢, to 286¢/kg lwt. Medium steers jumped 25¢, to 290¢, while heavy steers improved 2¢, to close at 283¢/kg lwt. Medium cows averaged 198¢, up 2¢/kg lwt.

 

Note: All yardings and prices referenced are from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.