THERE was a smaller yarding of 720 quality cattle offered at the weekly Mount Compass sale today.
All of the usual buyers were in attendance and bidding was solid on most classes of cattle.
Heavyweight bulls were scarce and processors were keen to secure numbers, so prices defied the sale trend. Values lifted five cents a kilogram and heavyweights sold from $2.10 to $2.17/kg. Lightweights sold to similar demand and returned $1.80-$2.20/kg.
Cow numbers were similar to last week and heavyweight beef breed cows remained firm, selling from $2.10-$2.20/kg. Lightweights sold from $1.20-$1.70/g.
Heavyweight steers and bullocks were scarce and export demand lifted prices 10c/kg, selling from $2.50-$2.85/kg. Grown heifers followed suit and sold from $2.30-$2.55/kg.
Few vealers were yarded and trade buyers were active. Bidding was solid with prices remaining firm on strong recent sales and vendors were rewarded with prices from $2.50-$3/kg.
Prime yearlings were fewer, and trade and processor buyer bidding was on a par with recent sales. Steers sold up to $3/kg and heifers returned up to $2.85/kg.
A good run of generally well-bred, store condition, lightweight cattle again sold to very quiet bidding from feeders, as numbers continue to outstrip demand. Feedlotters were conspicuously quiet and restockers were subdued with dry conditions throughout the state denying anything but speculative bidding. Quality, well-bred stores returned vendors $2.70-$2.80/kg.
