Dry boosts cattle sale numbers at Toowoomba - North Queensland Register

AT THE close of Monday’s markets, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) was at 363 cents a kilogram carcase weight.

Trade steers fell 2c, at 200c, while medium steers gained 1c, at 190c/kg. Feeder steers were back 1c on 202c, and heavy steers gained 1c, at 203c/kg. Medium cows eased 1c, averaging 160c/kg.

With no sale for two weeks and continuing dry weather in Queensland, numbers at Toowoomba Elders lifted 74 per cent, at 1368 head.

Buyer attendance was good, and with feeder buyers present and operating, medium and heavy weight young cattle sold to strong competition, reports Meat and Livestock Australia.

Medium C3 yearling steers onto feed sold to a top of 211c, averaging 205c, while light C2 yearling heifers sold from 163c to 182c, averaging 177c/kg. Heavy C4 grown steers to slaughter averaged 210c, back 9c, and heavy D4 cows averaged 188c, back 8c/kg.

In NSW, Tamworth yarded 2530 head, up 31pc on the sale two weeks ago. With a full field of buyers in attendance and quality fair to good, young cattle experienced a mixed trend and cows were mostly dearer.

Light C2 yearling steers returning to the paddock eased 2c, averaging 207c, while medium C2 yearling heifers onto feed trended 5c dearer, averaging 192c/kg. Heavy C2 grown steers to slaughter sold to a top of 198c, averaging 181c, while heavy D3 cows averaged 9c dearer, at 174c/kg.

Consignments to Wagga Wagga, NSW, eased 6pc to 5340 head - 700 head short of what was expected - with rain recorded across some supply areas. With fewer feeder buyers in attendance, yearling and grown steer prices eased, while cows averaged either side of firm.

Heavy C2 yearling steers to lotfeeders eased 5c, averaging 198c, and heavy C3 yearling heifers to slaughter eased 7c, averaging 181c/kg. Heavy C3 grown steers to processors sold to a top of 206c, back 9c on 192c, while heavy D4 cows were firm on 171c/kg.