Lamb consignments at Wagga lifted 50% week-on-week, to 30,000 head, with an outstanding offering of new season lambs making up a large portion of the yarding. There was a full panel of domestic and export buyers operating, and increased restocker enquiry.
Sheep numbers doubled, to 10,000 head, and most grades sold to a cheaper trend.
New season light weight 3 score lambs to restockers declined 43¢ and averaged 525¢/kg cwt
New season trade weight 3 score lambs were back 68¢ on 499¢/kg cwt
New season heavy weight 3 score lambs slipped 66¢ on 481¢/kg cwt
New season extra heavy 4 score lambs were 38¢ lower on 482¢/kg cwt
Old season trade weight 3 score lambs fell 105¢ on 403¢/kg cwt
Old season heavy weight 3 score lambs decreased 82¢ and averaged 414¢/kg cwt
Heavy weight 3 score Merino ewes slipped 56¢ and averaged 276¢/kg cwt
As a global marketing organisation, Meat & Livestock Australia has six International Business Managers (IBMs) based in key export destinations - each charged with promoting the superior safety and quality systems of Aussie red meat in order to gain better market access and grow demand.
Each month, MLA will be dialling in via Skype to one of our IBMs for a quick catch up of their in-country experiences in promoting Australia as a trusted source of safe, traceable and high quality red meat.
Drenching strategies can save time, money and increase productivity. Strategic drenching during an MLA-sponsored Mackinnon project in south-east Victoria measured weight gains of 14-26kg in weaner cattle (depending on season and pasture availability).
Producers can tap into this knowledge via a BetterBeef phone seminar/webinar - in collaboration with the MLA-funded More Beef from Pastures program - on Thursday 8 October.
Most Australian cattle markets were again dearer this week, despite very little rain across much of the country and offerings increasing at many centres. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) gained 3.5¢ week-on-week, to close Thursday’s markets at 594.75¢/kg cwt.
The largest yarding at Dalby in over 12 months (7,500 head) did little to limit price gains, with EYCI eligible cattle at that market lifting 13¢/kg cwt, averaging 580¢/kg cwt. Similarly, the Roma store market gained a further 9¢ this week for EYCI cattle (592¢/kg cwt) with reports of some restockers displaying keen interest in calves and light steers.
Slightly further south, similar categories of cattle at Casino averaged 568¢/kg cwt, while at CTLX Carcoar (618¢/kg cwt), Gunnedah (605¢/kg cwt), and NVLX Wodonga (603¢/kg cwt), the market remained strong, assisted by feedlots and some restocking interest.
The total volume of Australian beef imports into South East Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) this year has seen a decline in comparison with the same period in 2014. While the decline in Indonesia was largely due to its revised import protocols, trade to other countries has been influenced by increased competition from other beef exporting nations.
NVLX Wodonga yardings swelled 27% to 3,476 head
Shepparton throughput also jumped, up 27% week-on-week, to 2,700 head
Pakenham yarded 1,475 head across both sales, up 7% week-on-week
Leongatha consigned 1,442 head, up 5%
Warrnambool recorded a decrease in numbers of 16%, with 780 head yarded
Bairnsdale numbers edged 2% higher with 494 head penned
Colac and Ballarat both recorded decreases of 3%, yarding 313 head and 278 head, respectively
Camperdown yarded 827 head for an increase of 22% week-on-week
Young cattle prices slip
Medium weight C2 vealer steers to restockers were 7¢ cheaper on 325.3¢ and slightly heavier types to the trade also eased 7¢, averaging 308.7¢/kg. C3 medium weight vealer heifers sold to slaughter for a top of 348.6¢ and averaged 323.7¢, up 5¢/kg.
Heavy weight C2 yearling steers bought by feeder buyers sold between 275¢ and 347.2¢ and averaged 322.4¢, back 2¢/kg.C3 heavy weights to slaughter were also 2¢ easier, averaging 327.7¢/kg. Similar C3 heavy weight yearling heifers also to the trade lifted 2¢, selling between 272¢ and 339.2¢ and averaging 313.5¢/kg.
Cattle consignments in NSW lifted by 16%, week-on-week, for a total of 27,834 head.
Wagga increased by 9%, to pen 4,050 head, as Tamworth eased 3% for a total of 1429 cattle.
CTLX increased by 33% for 2,460 head, while Scone lifted 10% for a penning of 1,177 cattle.
Inverell slipped 29% for 1,247 head, as Gunnedah gained 14% to total 2,920 cattle.
Singleton increased by 7% to total 560 head, with Armidale adding an extra 36% for 549 cattle.
Forbes gained 34% for 2,943 cattle, while Moss Vale lifted by 28% to yard 996 head.
Casino remained close to equal at 1,183 head, as Dubbo increased by 12% to pen 7,300 cattle.
Finley continued its fortnightly market and penned 990 head.
Price remain firm
The medium weight vealer steers returning to the paddock maintained firm prices, making from 298c to 365c/kg. The vealer heifers sold 4c to 6c dearer to sell from 305c to 339c/kg.
The medium weight yearling steers to the lot feeder orders sold close to firm to range from 290c to 357c/kg. The bulk of the unfinished yearling heifers also trended close to firm, making from 260c to 337c/kg. The prime conditioned younger cattle to the butchers maintained solid prices, as the bulk sold around the 311c to 336c/kg range.
The overall supply of stock across Queensland, at MLA reported saleyards, increased by 8% week on week. However consignments at Dalby lifted by 38% to the highest level for 12 months, and numbers at the Roma store and Warwick sale increased by 12% and 18%, respectively.
The overall quality of the young cattle continues to be mixed with large numbers of calves from drought affected areas included in the line-up at Roma and Dalby. Export buyer attendance was generally good however some were not operating at markets early in the week. A large panel of feeder and restocker buyers was present at most markets, and at Dalby some volume buyers were in attendance.
Demand remains strong
Young cattle generally received strong demand from all sections of the market and, at Warwick, some well-bred lightweight calves and vealer steers sold to a new high. However, in places, plain poor quality lines were harder to sell with restockers being more selective.
Lamb consignments throughout NSW increased by 15% week-on-week, for a total of 107,839 head.
Dubbo penned similar numbers at 25,240 head.
Tamworth nearly doubled its numbers for 2,950 lambs.
Forbes increased by 21% and penned 25,336 head.
CTLX more than doubled at 7,000 lambs.
Wagga increased by 33% to yard 30,000 head.
Corowa gained 36% and yarded 15,106 lambs, as Inverell continued its fortnightly market and offered 2,206 head.
New season trade weight lambs trended $4 cheaper, making from $90 to $140/head, or from 530¢ to 533¢/kg cwt.
Trade weight older lambs sold close to firm, ranging from $76 to $132/head and from 482¢ to 523¢/kg cwt.