WA weekly cattle summary

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Cattle supplies edge lower

Dry conditions continued across most of WA this week with little prospect of good rainfall in the next few weeks. The two major sales saw supplies decrease.

• Muchea numbers were considerably lower, particularly for pastoral categories. Pastoral heifer and cow supplies made up a significant portion of the Muchea sale.
• Mt Barker supplies increased moderately in a mixed quality yarding.

Quality remained mixed with pastoral drafts in reasonable condition but less well-bred lines available. Trade young cattle increased in number and quality with most grain finished.

Competition continued at strong levels with improved live export activity across all young categories and prices were firm to dearer on both steer and heifer drafts. Cow and bull sales to processors remained firm however direct-to-works supplies kept two major processors relatively inactive. Bulls suitable for the live export trade lifted slightly with strong feeder and live exporter activity.

Prices mostly dearer despite lower processor demand

Prime trade cattle prices were dearer with quality up on last week. Both heifer and steer drafts made 290¢ to 310¢ with some trade steers selling to live exporters at up to 336¢/kg.

Grown steer drafts made from 190¢ to 315¢ with pastoral drafts between 190¢ to 261¢/kg. Grown heifers sold between 160¢ and 283¢/kg and were slightly dearer. 

Store steer prices were again very strong with local steers between 290¢ and 336¢/kg. Pastoral steers made 170¢ to 263¢/kg and were easier due to quality.

Relatively small numbers of local heifers were firm to marginally dearer at Muchea and the southern markets with most sales between 250¢ and 309¢/kg. Solid supplies of light and medium weight pastoral heifers at Muchea continued to sell well. Prices were between 150¢ and 267¢, back at least 10¢/kg, largely due to plainer quality offered. 

Cow prices were marginally dearer with the lighter weight and conditioned drafts selling from 100¢ to 187¢ and D2 cows sold between 160¢ and 226¢/kg. Most D3 and D4 cows, including the heavy weight drafts, made 180¢ to 244¢ and were up to 10c/kg dearer.

Bull sales to processors were 10¢ dearer with most between 180¢ and 230¢/kg. Better young and lighter weight bulls suitable for live export lifted on increased competition with most prices between 240¢ and 340¢, with some very light drafts reaching 380¢/kg.   

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