WA weekly cattle summary
03 February 2012
Throughput up
Some reprieve after the hot weather was realised late in the week as ex tropical Cyclone Iggy created rain across parts of the state. Prior to this occurring though, the hot conditions meant bushfires were a threat to areas north of Perth.
Dry feed quality has deteriorated but this has not encouraged those with stock to sell in large numbers. Regrowth in stubbles, large feed grain supplies and plantings of summer forage crops have all reduced to the pressure to sell off, which is to be expected at this time of year.
Cattle throughput at MLA’s NLRS reported markets increased but this was after the holiday affected markets last week. Not surprising, the largest gain was recorded at the Great Southern sale which reverted back to a two day format. Muchea though was reduced around 36% as the hot weather and bushfires in the supply area hampered mustering activates. Yardings were also greater than the corresponding time last year.
Quality at Muchea was more consistent as less store drafts were offered. Pastoral drafts were also penned in limited numbers. The quality of the vealers at the Great Southern sale has remained generally good, however the hot dry conditions have started to have an impact. The trade sale quality was generally fair to good with increased numbers of light cows that meet solid restocker enquiry.
Demand was solid from the regular field of buyers. Trade cattle, cows and bulls were slightly dearer early in the week. Vealers though struggled under the extra supplies and quality variations late in the week.
Vealers cheaper
Medium weight vealer steers to restockers in large numbers ranged from 227¢ to 239¢ with sales to a top of 271¢/kg. The few medium weights to feeders averaged 223¢/kg. Heavy yearlings were mostly secured by feeders from 203¢ to 208¢/kg. Those to restockers averaged 212¢ as some were secured by the trade at 207¢ to 214¢/kg. Medium weight vealer heifers were predominately secured by restockers from 200¢ to 214¢/kg. Heavy weights also returning to the paddock sold closer to 200¢ as those to the trade ranged from 202¢ to 205¢/kg. Light yearling steers to feeders average 225¢ with the medium weight making closer to 211¢/kg. The heavy weights secured by processors ranged mainly from 200¢ to 208¢/kg. Yearling heifers were in only very limited numbers.
Medium weight grown steers made mostly in the mid 190¢ range with sales to 205¢/kg. Good heavy steers averaged 183¢kg. The medium weight cows to slaughter ranged from 145¢ to 151¢/kg. There were fair numbers secured by restockers from 131¢ to 139¢ or $576 to a top of $731/head. The heavy D4 and D5 cows averaged 157¢ after making to a top of 169¢/kg. Light bulls to restockers averaged 177¢ as heavy bulls to slaughter sold mostly around 132¢/kg.
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