Market Report 2 April

Cattle-

Yarding– 2015

Numbers increased by close to 1,000 head, made up primarily of cows that accounted for over half the penning. A good quality yarding of yearlings came forward and this category saw trends rise for both steers and heifers. All of the regular buying panel attended and operated in a mostly dearer market. Included was an extra cow processor and feeder operator that returned after an absence. Limited weaners sold to firm trends, with vealers to the trade improving up to 40c/kg. Yearling steers saw improved quality and sold to dearer trends, while restocker and backgrounders saw rising trends of up to 40c/kg. Medium weight steers to feed sold 25c/kg dearer. Light heifers to feed also sold to dearer trends of 15c, with the quality drafts of medium weights seeing prices increase 50c/kg. Grown steers saw trends improve by 10c, as heifers sold slightly cheaper by 5c/kg. Light restocker cows were dearer by 13c, while medium trade cows saw cheaper trends of 8c/kg. Heavy 3 and 4 score cows saw prices ease 18c to 21c/kg on the better grades. An increased bull penning saw that category rise for the heavy drafts by 20c/kg.

Sheep-

Yarding– 3538                            Lambs–  1200                 Sheep– 2338

Lamb numbers were similar at 1,200 and grown sheep increased 2,338 for an overall increase in numbers. Lamb weight and quality lifted throughout, leading to a marked improvement in trends, particularly for the heavy categories. Sheep values also improved, again for the heavy weights. All the regular buyers attended and operated in a rising market, with an extra restocker order for light Merino sheep. Light lambs to the trade saw dearer trends of $20, with trade lambs going to dearer trends of $20 to $30/head. Weight and quality saw trends rise, particularly for the heavy and extra heavy consignments, with prices up by $30 to $50/head. Pens of heavy hoggets experienced increases of $50/head. Grown ewes improved by $20/head for medium weights and similar for the heavy crossbred and Dorper ewes. Heavy wethers, by way of weight, saw increases of $50/head.