Subscribe to The Weekly e-newsletter
For in-depth red meat market news, information and analysis.
WYCI eases despite widespread rainfall in southern WA
10 December 2015
Good rainfall across parts of WA has not slowed offerings into the major WA selling centres, causing the Western Young Cattle Indicator (WYCI) to ease from its record breaking peak earlier in the year.
The WYCI lost 11¢ this week, closing at 558.75¢/kg cwt, however is still up 19% from the same time in 2014.
Nevertheless, recent widespread rainfall in the southern parts of the state has seen the buying field at major saleyards competitive. This has somewhat supported prices and limited the impact the seasonal price decline – expected leading into summer conditions.
In spite of decent rainfall, Muchea again recorded high numbers yarded on Monday. Prices at Boyanup eased across all categories due to the plainer quality cattle on offer.
As illustrated in the figure below, in 2015, a consistent rising trend has seen the WYCI peak at 600.5¢/kg cwt early in November, the highest price on record for the indicator. This came on the back of a surge in throughput during October, after dipping to one of the lowest points for 2015 at 492.25¢/kg cwt.
