Friday daily cattle summary

At Emerald this week, cattle yardings declined 31% to 1,363 head. Quality was good, with competition strong for all feeder and restocker types and a bigger offering of bullocks penned overall. All the usual buyers operated, with western restockers particularly active throughout the sale.

• Medium D2 vealer steers to restockers were up 1¢, averaging 367¢/kg
• Medium D2 heifers to restockers averaged 353¢/kg
• Heavy C4 bullocks to processors gained 2¢, averaging 310¢/kg

Consignments at Dubbo decreased 45%, to 1,610 head. Substantial rainfall across the supply area saw numbers slip this week, with quality remaining firm and a fair selection of prime cattle on offer. Large numbers from far western regions were penned, consisting mainly of yearlings and cows, with most in good condition.

• Heavy C3 yearling steers to processors were back 3¢, averaging 387¢/kg
• Heavy C3 yearling heifers to slaughter averaged 358¢, up 9¢/kg
• Heavy D4 cows to the same orders eased 3¢, averaging 271¢/kg

Throughput at Bairnsdale increased 62% this week, to 596 head. The usual buying group operated in a mixed market, with quality varying across all categories. Prime cattle were short in supply, with a few drafts of butcher suitable vealer lines trending dearer.

• Heavy D3 yearling heifers to slaughter eased 3¢, averaging 324¢/kg
• Heavy D3 grown steers to processors averaged 6¢ higher, averaging 355¢/kg
• Heavy D4 cows to the same orders sold to 300¢, averaging 286¢, up 6¢/kg

At the close of Thursday’s markets:         

• The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) averaged 692.25¢, up 0.25¢/kg cwt on where it finished the previous day
• Trade steers were up 1¢, to 373¢/kg lwt
• Medium steers were up 7¢, on 338¢/kg lwt
• Heavy steers were up 7¢, to 347¢/kg lwt
• Medium cows were back 1¢, on 253¢/kg lwt
• Feeder steers were firm, on 378¢/kg lwt

For the full list of cattle market reports, please click here.

Note: All yardings and prices referenced are from MLA reported saleyards