Cattle Markets
Throughput at Roma Prime almost halved to 613 head. Prices trended either side of firm, with grown steers and bullocks maintaining last week’s strong gains. To slaughter, C4 bullocks eased 2¢, averaging 221¢, and light D4 grown heifers eased 1¢, averaging 196¢/kg. Medium D3 cows declined 1¢, averaging 168¢, while the heavy D4 portion improved 2¢, averaging 183¢ and selling to a top of 191¢/kg.
Dubbo yarded 5,400 head, back 4% week-on-week, and, while there was a reasonable supply of cattle suitable to slaughter and feed on, there was a large portion of cattle lacking quality and finish. Medium C3 yearling steers to feeder buyers eased 16¢ on last week, averaging 227¢, and the heavy portion to the same orders eased 6¢, averaging 232¢ and selling to a top of 248¢/kg. Medium C3 yearling heifers to feed on eased 2¢, averaging 204¢/kg. Medium C3 grown steers to lotfeeders improved 3¢, averaging 218¢, while heavy D4 cows to slaughter slipped 7¢, averaging 174¢/kg.
Consignments to Bairnsdale more than tripled to 1,710 head. An additional domestic processor pushed up trade heifer prices however most other lines trended firm to easier. Heavy C3 yearling steers to the trade eased 2¢, averaging 235¢, while the D3 heifer portion to the same orders improved 3¢, averaging 219¢ and selling to a top of 230¢/kg. To slaughter, D3 bullocks eased 1¢, averaging 219¢, while heavy D3 cows eased 7¢, averaging 175¢/kg.
At the close of Thursday’s markets, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) finished at 421.25¢/kg cwt, steady on the previous day. Trade steers improved 1¢ to 228¢ while medium steers eased 2¢ to 205¢/kg. Heavy steers eased 3¢ to 218¢ while feeder steers were unchanged on 230¢/kg. Medium cows eased 1¢ to 164¢/kg.
