SA weekly cattle summary
14/11/2008
Huge Mt. Gambier market Producers should have been quite satisfied with the dearer prices that were paid by processors at Naracoorte last Friday for 410 beef and some dairy cows. Most sales were 17¢ to 31¢/kg dearer, and should test what numbers are remaining this week. The SA LE had 780 or 640 head less in a mixed quality yarding that sold to most of the regular buyers at basically unchanged levels, with feeders paying less than last week. Naracoorte’s young cattle sale had 796 or 124 head more and featured a few pens of excellent quality vealer steers that strangely were the only category to attract a weaker trend, while most others were generally dearer due to steady trade and processor competition. Feeder and restocker orders were active and sourced a wide range of weights and quality of vealer and yearling steers. Grown steer prices rose, however were no match for the good prices paid at Mt. Gambier’s sale last week. The poor rainfall that was received after such a promising forecast for late last week led to 3,097 or 1,151 head more being yarded there this week and tested the regular buyers resolve, with a couple only making sparodic purchases. This is due to mention of some containers of Australian beef having difficulties in being delivered, mainly to Russia, which are likely to end up as boxed beef sold domestically. This may have a short term affect on domestic prices until the backlog is cleared before a perceived shortage of stock eventuates early next year. Mixed results Mixed results for producers as some categories attracted a fluctuating priced trend, with others cheaper. Vealer steers to the trade ranged from 160¢ to 185¢ for the C muscled, and up to 210¢ for the B muscled at rates generally 2¢ to 7¢/kg less. Feeder and restocker orders sourced well bred steers between 156¢ and 184¢ or 1¢ to 8¢/kg cheaper. Vealer heifer sales were erratic as most sold to the trade between 150¢ and 188¢, at rates ranging from 1¢ to 6¢ dearer, and unchanged to 4¢/kg cheaper. Yearling steer prices varied 4¢ to 5¢ either side of unchanged, with trade purchases from 152¢ to 191¢, and feeders and restockers in a wide spread between 128¢ and 181¢/kg. Large runs of 1,300 plus yearling heifers were 2¢ to 4¢ cheaper on C3 sales, and 2¢ to 20¢/kg dearer on D3 heifers in a strange twist. Medium weight grown steers were cheaper, while heavy C4 bullocks remained unchanged, as C3 and C4 sales ranged between 162¢ and 178¢/kg or around 310¢/kg cwt. Prices on smaller numbers were 2¢ to 12¢ dearer on runs of beef and dairy cows that sold mainly between 120¢ and 155¢, or 265¢ to 305¢/kg cwt.
|