Commentary by Meat and Livestock Australia

In cold and drizzly conditions numbers dropped to 3500 head. The quality was good for this time of year and mostly weaners were supplied along with a limited supply of yearling with most just over 12 months. There was less weight with the bulk of the cattle in the 200 to 270kg range. The market sold to stronger trends especially on the coloured cattle. Light weaner steers under 200kg sold from $590 to $960/head averaging 460c and out to 540c/kg. Medium weight Angus steers reached $1380/head and averaged 488c/kg and lifted $45/head on average but the medium weight Herefords and Black Baldies were $170 to $200/head dearer compared to last sale. The best priced heavy weights reached $1670/head. Most of the heifers had gains of between $90 and $120/head with medium weight selling from $650 to $1180/head, most sold between 370c and 410c/kg. The best price for heavy heifers reached $1330/head. A small run of cow/calf unit were penned and most cows were plain in condition. The best were a pen pf mixed aged Angus cow and calf reaching $2840/unit and heifers with their first calf made to $2150/unit.