WA weekly cattle summary
22 June 2012
Supply lifts
Overall numbers increased 10% compared to last week at markets reported by MLA’s NLRS and this was despite a slightly smaller yarding at Muchea. Supply was almost 40% greater than this time last year. Throughput at Muchea year to date when compared to last year is almost on par, while at Great Southern Saleyard supply is up by just under 5%.
Muchea was generally dominated by pastoral drafts, which is typical for this time of year. Quality was again mixed as the local drafts included some good young cattle as well as store condition drafts suiting feeders or restockers.
The larger yarding at the Great Southern Saleyard contained limited numbers of finished young cattle. Competition was limited as some processors and store buyers were not active.
With both centres combined it was an almost even split between the young cattle and grown cattle. Most of the young cattle were yearling heifers, while cows and bulls dominated the grown cattle.
Young cattle sold to a mixed trend with quality playing a part in the variation. Finished young cattle at Muchea sold to a dearer trend with the supplementary fed lines meeting the strongest demand.
It was a similar trend with the grown cattle as some of the pastoral cows and bulls met solid enquiry and recorded further gains which followed the trend of recent weeks. There were some improved quality grown steers early in the week which helped prices.
OTH rates were unchanged again for the grown cattle, while the grainfed and MSA yearlings increased slightly with one contributor making adjustments.
Prices fluctuate
Although limited, heavy vealer steers recorded good competition averaging 239¢, while medium vealer heifers lifted 3¢ to 216¢/kg. Lean light yearling steers to feed, on the other hand realised limited competition and slipped 15¢ to 220¢, the medium portion to feeders ranged from 223¢ to 238¢ averaging 234¢/kg. With the total yearling heifers accounting for 62% of the young cattle market the price remained relatively firm despite some isolated sales. Light yearling heifers to restockers lifted 9¢ to average 224¢, while D2 pastoral cattle settled on 140¢ with a top 195¢/kg. Medium weights to feeders gained 16¢ to average 221¢/kg.
The grown cattle offered were predominately from the pastoral areas with prices remaining relatively firm. Medium weight D3 steers were up 1¢ on 157¢ while light grown heifers settled on 133¢ back 5¢/kg. There was a good supply of cows accounting for 47% of the total grown market consisting of both plain and well-conditioned cattle. With the majority selling to either restockers or feeders, light D2 cows lifted 6¢ to average 124¢ while the medium portion topped at 154¢ with most around 148¢/kg. Heavy D4 cows ranged from 146¢ to 156¢ averaging 151¢/kg.