Market Report 26 October 2021

Cattle– 1232

Numbers increased slightly to offer a mostly fair quality yarding, with numbers of plainer weaners along with large contingent of Bos Indicus cattle, with many drawn from a draft of young steers and heifers from an agistment property. The regular panel of exporters, feeders and backgrounders were present and operating. There were drafts of plainer weaners available, both steers and heifers. While the top end of both drafts did not detract from the results, the plainer types did create a negative result overall. Light weight yearling steers to background sold to a dearer trend. Medium weight feeders steers also sold to a slight increase. It was not so for the heavy types, they sold to a significant decrease in price .Light and medium yearling heifers to feed and background also saw cheaper trends for their categories. The medium and heavy weight feeder heifers however sold to much dearer trends. Heavy steers to processors while selling strongly, did see a cheaper trend in the very heavy classes. Conversely the heifer drafts all sold to dearer trends. Medium weight cows saw a fall in price of 15c/kg. Heavy weight cows were firm to reach 400c/kg. Restockers and feeders were competitive in both cows to feed and to return to the paddock. Bull results were varied with the best bulls selling to 359c/kg to processors. The PTIC cows sold on a price per head basis made from $1750 to $2000/head.

Sheep

Yarding–  1474              Lambs– 900                    Sheep– 574

Inverell penned 900 lambs and 574 grown sheep, an increase of both lambs and sheep. The quality of the offering varied with a balance of trade and heavy lambs and an increase in ewe numbers. There were some very good pens of heavy lambs on offer, as well as trade types. All operators present with the exception of a major exporter. One pen of new season lambs of any consequence made to $220/head. Light trade lambs sold to cheaper trends of $7/head. Trade lambs were also cheaper, much cheaper for some drafts. Heavy lambs sold significantly cheaper, as did the lambs over 30kgs, to top at $270/head. Hoggets sold to a dearer trend. Grown sheep were mostly cheaper, medium weights $107 to $140, heavy Dorper ewes back $10/head. Heavy crossbred ewes sold to a cheaper trend of $30 to top at $190/head. Heavy Merino wethers topped $170/head.