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Tasmania market summary
09 July 2015
Cattle
There was a smaller yarding of trade and export cattle at Killafaddy and Powranna, with quality the plainest for the year as the effects of the cold winter start to show. Most prices were similar to a few cents cheaper, with more plain quality cattle being purchased by restockers.
Yearling steers made 210¢ to 241¢ and heifers returned 200¢ to 245¢, while restockers bought steers for 190¢ to 251¢/kg.
There were only 22 grown steers and bullocks yarded, with the steers selling from 214¢ to 241¢/kg. The bullocks were all of plain quality and made from 184¢ to 215¢/kg. There was also a very mixed yarding of 80 cows and the best met strong export competition, while restockers put a floor in the light cow market. Exporters paid 120¢ to 146¢ for very lean D1 cows, while restockers paid 138¢ to 149¢/kg for similar cows. Middle range D2 cows sold for 150¢ to 159¢ and heavy beef cows made 173¢ to 200¢ to average 195¢/kg.
Sheep
There was a larger yarding of lambs at Powranna and Killafaddy, with the increase being in store and light lambs. The prime lamb market was firm to $7/head dearer, while restockers and exporters battled for their share of light lambs. Mutton numbers halved to one of the smallest totals for the year.
Exporters and wholesalers paid $65 to $104 for light lambs, while restockers bought well-bred lambs for $69 to $108/head. Light trade lambs sold for $102 to $113, while trade weights returned $115 to $136, heavy lambs made $135 to $150 and a few extra heavy pens earned from $148 to $155/head.
The mutton market was cheaper than last week's very high rates, with one regular exporter inactive. Light ewes made $54 to $66, while medium weights sold from $84 to $95 and heavy ewes returned $86 to $100/head.
