Interest in short term cattle has taken a back seat as processors fill up on manufacturing beef. The focus has shifted to cattle to winter and longer term types made a bit of a comeback due to that fact. While $3.00/kg proved to be quite elusive, there were a number of lighter lines coming close.
Prime steer prices were very consistent at reduced levels of $2.51-$2.65/kg, though Hereford-Friesian, 629-747kg, did manage $2.65-$2.74/kg.
R3 Angus-Friesian, 489-542kg, eased to $2.49-$2.58/kg, which was also common ground for Angus-cross and Hereford-cross. The best Hereford-Friesian could muster was $2.65-$2.71/kg for 500-549kg, while a line of 11 Charolais-cross, 356kg, managed $2.98/kg.
The heavier end of the R2 steers eased also, and Hereford-Friesian, 450-530kg, traded at $2.52-$2.65/kg. But as the longer term cattle entered the rostrum prices went from steady for medium types to firm for the lighter end.
Most lines 400-445kg made $2.70-$2.83/kg, with a few exceptional pens to $2.89/kg. Those 350-390kg firmed to $2.85-$2.98/kg, with Angus-Friesian of similar weight discounted by 6-15c/kg on those levels. Hereford-Jersey, 389-474kg, traded at $2.59-$2.71/kg, while Angus, 309-360kg, fetched $2.58-$2.62/kg.
Just two lines of Hereford-Friesian, 386-391kg, managed to crack $3.00/kg, though only just at $3.01-$3.02/kg.
Thursday dawned sunny for the second-run weaner fair, enabling all to make it in, unlike the previous fair where floods made it impossible for some. A full yarding of 1370 was penned with a fairly even split between steers & heifers.
Heavier Angus lines were available in both the steer and heifer sections with each making solid returns. For the remaining majority however the market eased on levels seen at the last fair, with some lines discounted by $100-$150.
Angus steers were solid with 252-281kg returning $1000-$1100, $3.88-$3.97/kg, while 210-225kg fetched $890-$970, $4.07-$4.24/kg, and 123-195kg, $500-$755.
Returns varied for Charolais-cross with 265-279kg lifting to $1040-$1180, $3.90-$4.23/kg, while 210-263kg lines eased to $835-$1030. This was repeated with Hereford-cross, 233-245kg, which sold at a $100 discount to last fair at $750-$810. As did Shorthorn-cross, 268-272kg, easing to $1040-$1070, $3.88-$3.97/kg, while 191-207kg lines lifted to $800-$850, $4.11-$4.19/kg. Also softening were Simmental-cross, 253-279kg, $970-$1010, and 195-250kg at $770-$1005.
This movement continued for the majority of heifers with Angus one of the few to break the mould and manage solid returns as 225-252kg made $790-$860, and 138-203kg, $450-$630. Angus-Hereford, 217kg, maintained levels of $800, while Charolais-cross softened with 215-225kg managing $700-$870, and 159-199kg, $510-$660. Hereford, 155-220kg, were also discounted to $570-$800. Heavier Shorthorn-cross, 245-247kg, made steady to lifting returns at $800-$840, though lighter 207-212kg eased by $130 to $710-$740. Simmental-cross, 232-248kg, also continued this trend back at $770-$840.
Results were mixed in the bull section with nice Hereford, 225-273kg, strong at $1020-$1260, $4.53-$4.62/kg, whilst Angus, 225-253kg, traded at $700-$800.
