Gunnedah cattle sale: Quality in short supply

There was a fair supply of yearlings, grown steers and heifers of any quality were limited in number. The quality of the offering was mostly good, however there was a limited supply of well-finished cattle, most of those in cows.

The full field of buyers were in attendance, however there was a bit less feedlot competition on heavy feeder steers. There were varying market trends through the young cattle, with weaker demand resulting in a firm to 9c/kg cheaper market trend for medium and heavy weaner steers to restock and feed.

Medium weight weaner heifers to restock sold to a dearer trend, up to 5c/kg. They represented lighter weights and therefore a much lower buy in price than the equivalent steers.

Well-finished vealers suitable to the trade saw a firm to cheaper market trend with some of the price decline quality related.

Heavy yearling feeder steers remained close to firm despite there being less competition. Medium weight yearling heifers experienced little change in the market trend, late in the sale there was an odd dearer sale.

There were too few well-finished heavy grown steers and heifers to quote. The cow market was solid despite the large numbers.

Increased restocker activity combined with solid processor support saw the plainer condition cows sell on a firm to slightly dearer market trend. There was little but a quality related price movement in the better condition cows, those with a lower yield potential struggled to maintain their value.

Vealer Steer

200-280kg RS C2 260.7

280-330kg RS C2 274 C2 280 FD C2 282.3

330kg+ FD C2 282.2 RS C2 276.7

Vealer Heifer

0-200 RS C2 206.7

200-280kg RS C2 229.9 C2 214.3 C3 237.5

280-330kg C2 240 FD C2 252.7 RS C2 245.9 C3 273.3

330kg+ 284

Yearling Steer

200-280kg RS C2 243.8

280-330kg RS C2 256.7 FD C2 278

330-400kg FD C2 272.9 RS C2 264.5 C3 275 FD C3 265

400kg+ FD C2 267.5 FD C3 267.9 C3 275.

Yearling Heifer

200-280kg RS C2 209.2 RS C2 195

280-330kg RS C2 237.3

330-400kg RS C2 248.4 C2 242 FD C2 256.7 FD C3 236 C3 255

400+kg FD C2 248.1 RS C2 259 FD C3 226 C3 223.3 RS C3 256.2

Grown Steer

0-400kg FD C2 230

400-500kg  FD C2 248.9

500-600kg FD C2 243.8 RS C2 225 FD C3 255

Grown Heifer

0-540kg C2 216 FD C2 212 C3 223.4 FD C3 230.5 C4 225 RS D1 155 RS D2 154 FD D2 214 D2 144 D3 204 C3 237 C4 224.4

Cows

0-400kg RS D1 114 D1 95 D2 124.8

400-520kg RS D1 149 D1 106 RS D2 152.5 D2 156.6 D3 165.2 D4 165

520kg+ C3 206 D2 179.8 D3 182.6 D4 193.6 D5 162.7

Bulls

0-450kg RS C2 212.8

450-600kg RS C2 226 C2 196.2

600kg+ B2 214.3 C2 204.4