Muchea attracting strong interest

A total of 1567 head of cattle were yarded at Muchea on Monday, included 614 calves in the appraisal sale.

Supplies for all classes improved with good competition recorded throughout the sale from processors, restockers and feeders.

All regular trade representatives were present at the sale and active in the market with good eastern states presence.

The sale started for the first time with young cattle and finishing on cows and bulls.

Vealer supplies improved significantly this week and included better weight and quality with many heavy weights.

These were highly sought after from local butchers to improve prices by 10c/kg.

Vealer steer prices ranged from 180 to 231c/kg to average 208.8c/kg, while vealer heifers ranged in price from 108 to 228c/kg to average 183.6c/kg.

Yearling supplies started to improve to also receive very good competition from processors and feeders for larger framed steers and heifers.

Yearling steer prices ranged from 134 to 215c/kg to average 194.1c/kg; while yearling heifer prices ranged from 110 to 201c/kg to average 158.9c/kg.

Store grades received good competition from live exporters and feeders to receive very good prices.

Grown steer prices ranged from 106 to 185c/kg to average 154.5c/kg.

Grown heifer prices ranged from 100 to 145c/kg to average 128.1c/kg.

Locally bred heavy weight cows received good competition from the processing sector for a higher average.

Store cows received very good competition from both processors and eastern states restockers to be dearer 6c/kg.

Cow prices ranged from 97 to 113c/kg to average 107c/kg.

Live export competition was very strong for light weight bulls and suitable young steers.

Locally bred young bulls sold to live exporters for prices of 130 to 200c and pastoral types 130 to 185c/kg.

Bull prices ranged from 75 to 214c/kg to average 143.7c/kg.

On Tuesday supplies of ewes and crossbred lambs increased significantly on last sale, accounting for the increase in total yarding with a total of 17,164 head going under the hammer.

Most trade representatives were present at the sale with competition from a few major lamb processors absent.

Feeders and restockers provided good competition on store crossbred lambs, however there was no estern states interest recorded this week.

Heavy weight crossbred lambs recorded the biggest fall in price, easing $10 to $15/head due to limited competition.

Trade weight lambs remained relatively equal with store crossbred lambs remaining in high demand to record slightly better prices this week.

Overall lamb prices ranged from a low of $35/head to a high of $109.50/head, to average $72.34/head.

There was a very large yarding of ewe mutton at 6338 head. Demand for ewe mutton remained high from local processors as prices for all grades stayed pretty similar to the last sale in December 2010.

Ewe prices ranged from $48/head to $98.50/head to average $72.08/head.

There were very few finished wether drafts available selling to a modest live export inquiry.

Overall wether prices ranged from $80 to $95/head to average $87.90/head, while ram prices ranged from $58 to $86.50/head to average $70.72/head.