Sheep and lambs
BENDIGO
February 25. Yarding: 19,320. Change: up 2520. Lambs: 12,695. Change: down 305. Sheep: 6625. Change: up 2825.
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Lamb numbers remained similar while sheep supplies doubled on the low levels of a week ago.
More heavy export lambs off feed came forward, while nicely weighted and finished domestic lambs were again limited.
Buyer demand went back to being patchy and selective, with not all processors active or purchasing their usual numbers.
Price results varied according to weight and quality.
The heaviest export lambs fell by $20/head, while the general run of domestic lambs were firm to a few dollars easier.
There wasn't a lot of well-bred light weight lambs to suit restockers, and demand from processors for suitable MK export stock was strong and they purchased the bulk.
Bidding reached a top of $220/head for export lambs estimated around 34kg cwt.
The main run of heavy lambs, 26-30kg cwt, sold from $180 to $200/head at an estimated 640c to 660c/kg cwt for most.
The market did show more resilience over the better presented lines of trade weight lambs.
The main run of shorn crossbred lambs, 22-24kg, sold from $154 to $175/head to be within a couple of dollars of last week at 670c to 690c/kg cwt.
There was select pens that pushed over 700c/kg, the best result in the sale being an estimated average of 720c/kg cwt for pick of the 20-22kg cwt lambs which displayed good fat cover.
Small and light weight lambs to processors remained strong at $90 to $130/head for the better quality types.
Sheep numbers nearly doubled, made up of mostly crossbred and Merino ewes being pushed out due to the on-going dry.
Prices fluctuated a few dollars either side of last week, with the heavier and better covered mutton receiving the best support.
Very plain and drought affected ewes were discounted.
The best slaughter sheep trended above 400c/kg cwt.
AVERAGES
CROSSBRED LAMBS
RE & SL Pederson (121) Kamarooka $ 220.00
BD &S Cail (109) Kamarooka $ 212.00
B & M Barlow (97) Wanalta $ 211.00
Stokeferry (31) Woomelang $ 202.00
AD & TL Cole (73) Neilborough $ 200.00
DI Gitsham & Sons (56) Kerang $ 200.00
GJ & GM Bremner P/L (39) Quambatook $ 199.00
TB & B Cail (58) Kamarooka $ 198.00
Noel Harvey (42) Nagambie $ 197.00
SN & DA Collins (73) Bridgewater Nth $ 196.00
K Barlow (63) Moama $ 195.00
C & H Wilson (14) Goornong $ 190.00
P & L Ryan (81) Cosgrove Sth $ 189.00
GJ & CM Rathjen (40) Colbinabbin $ 185.50
RK & AP Mitchell (48) Milloo $ 185.00
B & P Young (56) Malmsbury $ 183.50
JT Eade Trading P/L (50) Mitiamo $ 183.00
Micheal G Barrett (31) Gre Gre Nth $ 182.00
Muller Pastoral (49) Nagambie $ 178.00
Beamish Lanyon (46) Boort $ 178.00
R & K Sloan (54) Powlett Plains $ 176.00
GJ & VJ Baldwin (30) Gre Gre $ 174.00
JL McCarthy & Co P/L (43) Lancefield $ 173.00
Timmy & Jess Bickley (110) Goornong $ 172.00
RAMJ P/L (22) Knowsley $ 171.00
Freemantle & Bell (105) Woodstock $ 168.00
Rinaldi Farms (164) Womboota $ 167.00
MERINO LAMBS
HG & A Peverill (201) Charlton $ 174.00
Lott Family Trust (16) Rochester $ 150.00
C Hosking (25) Echuca $ 115.00
CROSSBRED EWES
R Gough (41) Mansfield $ 154.50
Yenken Past Co (79) Mansfield $ 137.00
DI Gitsham & Son (62) Kerang $ 133.00
S & R Snelson (64) Tongala $ 130.00
A & L Schroder (20) Echuca $ 130.00
Synergy Farms (20) Yarrawalla $ 128.00
Rathjen Vineyard (16) Colbinabbin $ 126.00
Oberin Farms (21) Fosterville $ 126.00
MERINO EWES
Barlow Nom (13) Barham $ 114.00
CATTLE
February 26
Cattle numbers were down this week, with 146 coming forward.
The cattle presented are starting to show the signs of a very hot and dry summer, however, competition remained strong.
Heavy steers sold to a top of $2.66 per kilo and remained firm.
Medium to heavy steers sold to a top of $2.70 per kilo, also remaining fully firm.
A good run of vealers came through and the better calves sold to a top of $3.00 per kilo remaining the same as the previous market.
A neat run of cows presented and sold to a top of $1.72 per kilo, falling by 4 to 5 cents .
QUOTES
Heavy Steers over 500kg sold to $2.66
Medium to Heavy Steers 450- 500 kg sold to 2.70
Steer Veal Heavy over 400kgs sold to 2.98
Steer Veal medium 320 – 390kg sold to 3.00
Heifers Veal 420 to 490kgs sold to $ 2.90
Heifer Veal 320 – 390kgs sold to $2.99
Beef Cows - $1.72
STEERS
D Pitson - Bagshot $ 1,331.20
M & R Baker - Tennyson $ 1,157.21
Connally Real Estate - Heathcote $ 991.10
VEALERS
V Bier - Heathcote $ 1,235.64
L & G Stewart - Newbridge $ 1,232.88
V Mayes - Heathcote $ 1,215.81
G Mulcair - Goornong $ 1,102.50
COWS
K,P & C Engi - Raywood $ 1,548.04
T & H Hocking - Dingee $ 1,345.68
Bertlea Ent - Strathfieldsaye $ 1,336.50
HEIFERS
C Jensen - White Hills $ 1,556.50
A & N Hocking - Dingee $ 1,410.64
L & G Stewart - Newbridge $ 1,113.70
P & L White - Sidonia $ 1,083.45
Connally Real Estate - Heathcote $ 964.60
ORDER OF SALE FOR WEEK END March 9
McKean & McGregor 3 & 5
Ellis Nuttall 5 & 2
FP Nevins 4 & 1
Landmark 1 & 3
Elders 2 & 6
Rodwells 6 & 4
Downward trend continues
The downward trend in cattle prices continued last week.
It has been four years since east coast slaughter has been this strong at this time of year, and it’s running 10 per cent ahead of this time last year.
Heavy slaughter cattle prices are not far below.
The National Trade Steer is 19c/kg below this time last year, but heavy steers are 2c/kg better.
Restockers and feeders are dragging the chain and the EYCI is now 72c/kg off last years levels, at 449.5c/kg cwt.
The EYCI hasn’t been below 450c/kg since April 2015.
Helping support finished cattle prices are rising 90CL export values.
Last week the price in US terms gained 6.5c/kg, while in our terms it was up 25c/kg.
The increase in export values is nearing a three-year high and in US terms, the 90CL is heading towards a 10-month high.