Huge calf influx breaks sales record at Muchea

At Muchea’s cattle sale, a record number of 1428 calves were included in the appraisal sale.

Out of the total 2051 head yarded, the big increase was put down to a couple of big lines of pastoral calves. Trade cattle supplies remain limited with very few heavy bulls included in the yarding. Most regular buyers from local and eastern states processors were present at the sale along with good feeder and restocker representation.

Heavy weight vealer steers achieved dearer prices while vealer heifers also had an improvement in prices with a large supply available. Vealer steer prices this week averaged 197.3c/kg, ranging from 160 to 210c/kg; while vealer heifer prices ranged from 110 to 209c/kg to average 174.7c/kg.

Yearling steers remained in high demand with the yarding consisting predominantly of stores and pastoral types and very few finished trade weights available. Prices ranged from 109 to 199c/kg to average 182.5c/kg.

The yearling heifer yarding had a similar trend and despite a large yarding, yearling heifers achieved equal if not better prices due to good competition ranging in price from 94 to 195c/kg to average 150.1c/kg.

Cows remain the largest class to be sold with very few heavy weight 3 and 4 score cows available. There was good competition from local and eastern states processors; however, prices remained relatively equal for all grades ranging from a high of 114c/kg to a low of 45c/kg to average 86.1c/kg.

Bull supplies were limited with good heavy weight bulls in high demand and achieving dearer prices. There were few light weight bulls included in the main trade sale and overall prices ranged from 62 to 134c/kg to average 124c/kg.

On Tuesday a total of 9546 sheep and lambs were yarded at Muchea with dry conditions in much of the State forcing many producers to sell stock.

Most regular trade representatives were present with feeder and restocker competition remaining strong; however, an eastern states processor was absent.

Crossbred lamb supplies were mixed in quality with a large supply of store lambs included in the yarding. Store crossbred lambs have remained in very high demand over the past few weeks to achieve similar prices, selling to restockers and feeders across WA and interstate. Lambs over 22kg carcase weight realised an improvement in prices for a similar carcase weight prices due to improved weight and quality. Lamb prices overall ranged from $15 to $96.50/head to average $65.34/head.

Ewe mutton supplies remain limited with a large yarding of manufacturing mutton included that received dearer prices due to good competition from processors and restockers. Heavy weight ewes also received good competition to finish slightly dearer.

Ewes carrying plenty of wool received very good competition. Overall ewe prices ranged from $25 to $91/head to average $59.99/head.

Finished drafts of wethers and rams were very limited with very little live export interest. Young store wethers were short in supply and due to high demand were dearer by $5/head. Stores sold to regular live export feeders and local restockers. Wether prices ranged from $75 to $90/head to average $82.30/head, while ram prices ranged from $30 to $91.50/head to average $59.93/head.