Subscribe to The Weekly e-newsletter
For in-depth red meat market news, information and analysis.
QLD weekly cattle summary
03 September 2015
Numbers contract significantly
The supply of stock at NLRS reported saleyards in Queensland dropped 31% week-on-week, totalling around 16,400 head. Scattered rainfall around the southern Queensland supply area over the weekend saw almost all centres record a decline in numbers. Roma Store was back 44%, to pen 5,050 head, while Dalby’s numbers eased 17%, to 4,546 head.
Young cattle continued to dominate the pens and there were larger numbers of plainer western cattle consigned. However restocker demand was spirited as a result of the shorter supply and additional exporters competed at some markets this week.
Spirited restocker competition boosts prices
- A fair supply of calves to restockers sold 5¢ to 26¢ dearer this week, averaging 289¢ for D2 lines and 338¢/kg for C2’s
- Light to medium weight vealer heifers to slaughter lifted 7¢ to 11¢, averaging between 285¢ and 291¢/kg
- Light C2 yearling steers returned to the paddock 3¢ to 12¢ dearer week-on-week, averaging 314¢, while medium weights to feeder buyers gained 4¢ and settled around the 300¢/kg mark
- The majority of the light weight D2 yearling heifers purchased by restockers were 7¢ cheaper, on 278¢, with the heavy C3’s to processors back 3¢ and averaging 283¢/kg
- The return of an exporter to the buying panel at Toowoomba saw C4 heavy grown steers and bullocks improve by 8¢ to 11¢ and average in the mid-290¢/kg range
- Medium D3 and 4 score cows were 3¢ cheaper, averaging from 234¢ and 247¢, respectively, while the heavy D4 cows improved 4¢ and returned vendors around 258¢/kg
Note: All yardings and prices referenced from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.
