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WA weekly cattle summary
30 July 2015
Pastoral cattle quality improves
Only light rain was recorded across most of WA this week, with falls below 10mm in most areas.
- Muchea cattle numbers eased slightly but very strong numbers of pastoral heifers and cows dominated the market
- Mt Barker supplies lifted slightly for another small, mixed quality yarding
Pastoral steer numbers and quality improved and reasonable supplies of pastoral bulls were available. Quality remained mixed at both sales, with pastoral condition quite good and the pastoral steer quality significantly better.
Young trade cattle numbers were again limited. Competition on feeder cattle continued at strong levels, with additional live export activity across all young categories.
Prices for young local cattle were dearer on both steer and heifer drafts but the large numbers of young pastoral heifers saw prices continue to ease. Cow and bull sales to processors remained strong with quality improving. Bulls suitable for the live export trade improved in quality and prices were dearer.
Processor demand helps cow and bull prices lift
Trade cattle prices remained similar to last week, with both heifer and steer drafts making between 280¢ and 315¢/kg.
Store steer prices were again very strong, with local steers between 290¢ and 351¢, up 5¢/kg.
Pastoral steers made 180¢ to 294¢/kg, with improved quality lifting average prices. Large supplies of light and medium weight pastoral heifers at Muchea continued to ease, with most back around 10¢/kg and making 165¢ to 249¢/kg.
Small numbers of local heifers were firm to marginally dearer at both markets, with most sales between 250¢ and 300¢/kg.
Grown steer drafts made from 220¢ to 297¢, with pastoral drafts between 220¢ and 289¢/kg. Grown heifers sold between 180¢ and 284¢/kg.
Cow prices were firm, with the lighter weight and conditioned drafts selling from 130¢ to 200¢ and medium weight D2 cows between 173¢ and 228¢/kg. D3 and D4 cows, including the heavy weight drafts, made 192¢ to 235¢/kg.
Bull sales to processors were slightly dearer with prices between 180¢ and 240¢/kg. Young and lighter weight bulls suitable for live export lifted on improved quality with prices between 220¢ and 348¢/kg.
Note: All yardings and prices referenced from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.
