Friday daily cattle summary

Cattle throughput at Roma Prime increased 18% this week, to 1,195 head. Grown heifers were well supplied, with a decent supply of bullocks and cows on offer. All the usual buyers were in attendance, however competition softened resulting in a cheaper market trend overall.

• Heavy C4 bullocks to processors fell 35¢, averaging 275¢/kg
• Light C3 grown heifers to slaughter averaged 249¢, easing 30¢/kg
• Medium D2 cows to processors dropped 21¢, averaging 213¢, while D3 lines to the same order averaged 229¢, back 12¢/kg

Consignments at Dubbo were down 7% this week, to 5,130 head. Quality was fair, with a good supply of young cattle suited to feeder and backgrounding orders. A few drafts of well finished cows and grown steers were also on offer, and most of the regular buyers operated – with the exception of one northern feeder buyer.

• Medium C2 yearling steers to feed averaged 226¢, back 5¢/kg
• Heavy C3 yearling steers to feed dropped 6¢, averaging 331¢/kg
• Medium C3 yearling heifers to feed were down 8¢, averaging 316¢/kg
• Heavy D4 cows to processors were back 10¢, averaging 230¢/kg

Cattle numbers at Bairnsdale decreased marginally (3%) this week, to 1,195 head. Quality varied, with a good selection of vealers suited for processors. A full field of buyers operated in a mixed to firmer market this week – with one domestic supermarket buyer returning to the fold following a short absence.

• Heavy D3 yearling heifers to slaughter increased 11¢, averaging 302¢/kg
• Heavy C3 grown steers to slaughter averaged 315¢, gaining 2¢, while D3 bullocks jumped 1¢, averaging 298¢/kg
• Light D3 grown heifers increased 5¢, averaging 284¢/kg

At the close of Thursday’s markets:         

• The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) finished on 640¢, decreasing 2¢/kg cwt on where it finished the previous day.
• Trade steers averaged 330¢, dropping 2¢/kg lwt
• Medium steers increased 5¢, averaging 305¢/kg lwt
• Heavy steers eased 5¢, averaging 300¢/kg lwt
• Medium cows slipped 2¢, averaging 230¢/kg lwt
• Feeder steers settled on 349¢, down 1¢/kg lwt

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

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