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QLD weekly cattle summary
02 July 2015
Numbers ease
Numbers declined 10% week-on-week across the state. However, Dalby went against this trend, where the first sale in the new financial year saw a small increase in supply and over 60% of the total cattle yarded were drawn from far western districts. Restocker and feeder buyer attendance at all markets was generally good, with stronger support from local and interstate operators and sales of over 300¢/kg were recorded on a number of occasions. A full panel of exporters was present at most selling centres and all provided strong competition across all classes. Demand was pushed on in places by some additional domestic support in the cow sections.
Lighter cattle dominate
Light weight cattle from the drought affected areas of the state continued to dominate the selling pens, as producers wean straight into the saleyards in an effort to maintain a core breeding herd. A large number of calves sold to restockers from the more favourable areas in the south-east corner of the state. Most improved in price by 12¢, to sell around 279¢, with a few to 312.2¢/kg. This trend also flowed onto the vealer steers and most returned to the paddock close to 20¢ dearer, at 297¢, with a few pens to 318.2¢/kg. Vealer heifers gained 10¢ to 30¢, with restocker lines experiencing the largest gains to average 244¢/kg. Light weight yearling steers returned to the paddock 16¢ dearer, at 288¢, with sales to 318.2¢/kg. Medium weights to feed experienced significant gains to improve by 20¢ to 30¢, with sales to 328.2¢ and the largest numbers in the 280¢/kg range. Heavy weights to feed averaged 13¢ better, with most in the high 270¢ range, though some sales were to 320.2¢/kg. Light weight yearling heifers from drought affected areas received very strong support from restockers to average 40¢ dearer, at 264¢, with a few pens to 280.2¢/kg.
The quality of the relatively small supply of bullocks was boosted by some supplementary fed lines and average prices lifted by 17¢ to 257¢, with sales to 269.2¢/kg. Cows generally experienced improvements of 13¢ to 15¢, with medium weight 2 scores averaging 190¢/kg. Despite the severe drought conditions good heavy cows were in the largest numbers and averaged 227¢, with a number of pens reaching 239.2¢/kg.
Note: All yardings and prices referenced from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.
