Cattle numbers lift with mixed quality

THERE was a small lift in supply and overall quality was very mixed at the Warwick cattle sales on Tuesday, 10 September.
Total yarding was 1243 or 63 less than the previous week.
The export buying panel was not as good as the previous week, however the usual feeder and trade operators were present in the young cattle section along with a fair line-up of restocker buyers.
Young cattle experienced a wide variation in price according to quality and restockers were very active on young lightweight lines.
The better end of the local trade cattle met strong competition from butchers, however prices tapered off on lesser quality lines.
Heavy grown steers and bullocks lost 5c to 6c/kg. Medium to good cows sold close to firm while lightweight poor condition lines struggled to attract demand.
A fair run of calves returned to the paddock at 164c with the occasional pen to 198.2c/kg.
A small selection of top end quality vealer heifers were in demand from local butchers and sold to 196.2c to average 178c/kg.
Lightweight yearling steers returned to the paddock at an average of 175c, with some well-bred lines to 192.2c/kg.
Medium and heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 159c and sold to 168.2c and 165c/kg respectively.
Heavyweights to the trade averaged 167c and sold to 174.2c/kg.
Light and medium weight yearling heifers sold cheaper. A small selection of lightweights averaged 136c and a good sample of medium weights averaged 152c and sold to 178c/kg.
Heavy grown steers to export slaughter averaged 171c and sold to 176.2c and a handful of bullocks made to 174.2c/kg.
Medium weight plain condition cows averaged 82c and 2 scores 106c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 140.6c to average 133c/kg.
Heavy bulls made to 154.2c/kg.