Cows most of Midland yarding

The total yarding reached 1729 head at Midland this week, up 403 on last week’s numbers.

Store cattle numbers were up at Midland's cattle sale this week with cows again making up most of the yarding.

The total yarding reached 1729 head, up 403 on last week's numbers, with heavyweight trade cattle numbers limited in supply and few grown steers and heifers available.

Good demand and competition was provided by the restocker and feeder sector. Vealer steers were in high demand, achieving dearer rates.

Vealer heifers were also in short supply, but rates remained relatively equal to last week's.

Dependent on weight and condition, score yearling steers sold for 72-165c/kg, while yearling heifers sold for 80-177c/kg
Competition from processors was reserved, resulting in cheaper rates for cows with heavyweight 3 and 4 score cows down 4c/kg and lighter conditioned cows down 8c/kg.

Cows up to 400kg sold for 30-99c/kg, cows 400-520kg sold for 44-95c/kg with cows over 520kg selling for 77-104c/kg.

Heavyweight bull numbers which were also down drew cheaper prices, ranging from 65-100c/kg.

Sheep and lamb numbers were down for a second week at Midland's Tuesday yarding.

A total of 12,089 head was yarded, down 4552 on the previous week. This was attributed to limited supplies of surplus sheep remaining in the State.

Crossbred lamb supplies remained similar to the previous week with a total of 7733 yarded.

Good weight and quality was included in the yarding with rates for heavyweight crossbred lambs and trade lambs equal to last week.

Lamb prices averaged $76.71 a head, ranging from a low of $21.50/head for lambs under 12kg to a high of $130/head for lambs over 26.1kg.

While small and plain store lambs were cheaper than the previous week, there was active restocker and feeder inquiry in the market.

Strong trade demand continued for ewe mutton with rates for heavyweight ewes averaging more than $70/head.

Ewe supply is continuing to remain limited with only 2000 ewes in total at this week's sale, however this week the ewe average dropped $3.26/head to $65.51/head.

Supplies of wethers and rams were also limited and there were very few young rams included in the sale.

Heavyweight wethers were in demand from live exporters to be $5/head dearer on last week, while younger types were in high demand from feeders and restockers.

The young wether average dropped $7.52 this week to $65.90 while ram averages lifted $6.31 to average $73.63/head.

   Printable Version