Prime Cattle
December 13
Yarding 1,121
Numbers decreased for the last sale of 2018. Competition for light weaners was strong and lifted prices for restockers. Yearling were well supplied and there was a large draft of one mark heifers. Trade cattle were limited and only a few heavy bullocks were penned. Cow numbers declined and restockers were active on the lighter cows. Not all the usual buyers operated.
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Weaners lifted 17c, as steers made from 296c to 305c, while very light steers reached 319c/kg. Heifers to restock reached 261c/kg. Trade vealers sold to 280c/kg. Feeder steers were 4c cheaper on the medium weights, making from 260c to 281c, while heavy feeders sold to 265c/kg. The heifers sold 7c to 12c dearer, reaching 270c for light weights and averaging 260c/kg for the medium and heavy heifers. Trade cattle were 3c stronger, making from 255c to 275c/kg.
The few heavy bullocks sold to a dearer trend, receiving from 262c to 270c/kg. Restocking competition for light cows lifted prices 20c on the lighter 2 score cows, but the heavier weights were firm, making from 148c to 180c/kg. Heavy cows averaged firm to 2c better to receive from 182c to 222c, averaging 208c/kg. First sale for 2019 is on Thursday, January 10.
Cat, Wgt (Qty), c/kg, $/hd
- Light Steers < 350 357 Top 319.6 $935; av 257.2 $635
- Light Heifers < 350 421 Top 280 $902; av 240 $604
- Trade Steers 351 - 500 38 Top 275.2 $1286; av 249.1 $982
- Trade Heifers 351 - 500 48 Top 269.2 $1229; av 251.4 $955
- Export Steers 501 + 23 Top 270 $1688; av 239.2 $1322
- Export Heifers 501 + 5 Top 244 $1598; av 239.5 $1365
- Cows 129 Top 221.2 $1535; av 187.1 $975
- Bulls < 700 40 Top 270.2 $1109; av 171.2 $574
- Bulls 700 + 8 Top 225 $2171; av 210.9 $1845
Prime Sheep, Lamb
December 12
Yarding 27,481
Lamb numbers fell and the quality was plainer. Store lambs were best supplied and there were reasonable numbers of trade weights, but heavy lambs were limited.
Restocking lambs sold $4 easier with prices $70 to $121, with feeders paying to $139/head for light trade weights. The 2 score processing lambs eased $6 selling from $76 to $116/head. Heavy trade lambs were $3 to $6 cheaper, with the drier lambs taking the biggest fall making $124 to $156/head and averaging 660c/kg.
Quality affecting the heavy new season lambs dropped the price by $8, ranging from $150 to $178 and extra heavy lambs reached $196/head averaging 635c to 690c/kg.
Shorn trade weights were firm at $135 to $153 averaging 650c/kg, and heavy weights reached $180/head. Hoggets sold to $148/head.
Mutton numbers fell and quality was plainer. Light sheep eased $8 to $10/head and heavy sheep were firm to slightly dearer. Light sheep made $20 to $58/head. Medium weight ewes sold from $65 to $114/head averaging 380c/kg. Heavy crossbred ewes reached $146/head averaging 430c/kg.
Category (Qty) $/Hd
- Suckers XB 8,959 Top $196.00; av $127.56
- Lambs Merino 558 Top $85.00; av $44.32
- Lambs XB 4,868 Top $180.00; av $92.78
- Hoggets XB 353 Top $146.00; av $102.53
- Wethers Merino 2,422 Top $136.00; av $85.26
- Ewes XB 3,220 Top $147.00; av $97.38
- Ewes Merino 4,154 Top $130.00; av $68.65