Market Report 8 October 2024

Cattle - 864

Inverell penned 864 fair quality cattle a slight increase of 187 head. Limited competition on the plainer types with an absence of some feeder operators and a softening of the cow market for similar reasons.   Trends for weaner steers to the paddock were 7c/kg dearer. Light yearling steers slipped 11c/kg while similar category feeder steers sold to a 4c/kg rise making 378c/kg. Medium weight processing steers sold to 292c/kg the heavy weights slightly cheaper to 324c/kg. Light feeder heifers lost up to 41c/kg however the medium weight heifers were to 6c/kg dearer. Heavy feeders were back 19c/kg selling 300c to 314c/kg.  Heavy grown steers gained 3c/kg to make 325c/kg while similar heifers lost 19c/kg making 248c to 314c/kg. Heavy cows were back 6c to 19c/kg topping at 286c/kg. Heavy bulls were cheaper 270c to 296c/kg. 

Sheep

Yarding –  2050 Lambs – 1622 Sheep – 428

Lambs increased to 1622 and sheep numbers reduced by 690 to pen 1622 lambs and 428 grown sheep at Inverell. Heavy lambs increased in quality and numbers to sell to positive trends although there was still an absence of a major operator with closure for renovation. Grown sheep results varied seeing dearer trends for select pens for weight and quality.  Light Merino lambs to process slipped $9/head to sell $90 to $100/head. The trade drafts dearer $120 to $140/head. Trade cross bred lambs firm to slightly dearer $160 to $175/head. The lead of the heavy Merino lambs $131 to $165/head. Heavy trade Dorper  lambs to $28/head dearer selling $190 to $220/head. The cross bred types to $18/head dearer $190 to $214/head. Lambs in excess of 30kgs cwt both Dorper and cross breds resulted in Dorpers topping at $240/head and crossbreds $215 to $220/head with both categories to much dearer trends. Heavy Merino hoggets to $22/head better.  Trade cross bred ewes $45 to $65/head and heavy ewes $16/head better. Dorper ewes were firm to dearer $80 to $81/head. Trade wethers gained $7/head and a small pen of cross bred wethers sold to $108/head.