Livestock agent ROSS ELLIS of McDougall and Sons brings us an update on the local lamb and cattle markets from last week…
Agents yarded a similar yarding of 753 head to the weekly sale with a good run of cattle to suit most of the buying panel, cows hit $4 and as far as many memories go that’s as high as they have been, other than special sales.
The back to the paddock stock on offer was keenly sought after as well as some cow and calf units.
Cattle numbers
Vealer steers averaged 616.3c/kg to a top of 710.2c/kg or $1656.95 to a top of $2061.08
Vealer heifers averaged 530.3c/kg to a top of 708.2c/kg or $1379.78 to a top of $1835.94
Feeder steers averaged 533.6c/kg to a top of 612.2c/kg or $2132.60 to a top of $2644.29
Feeder heifers averaged 436.1c/kg to a top of 488.2c/kg or $1668.91 to a top of $2070.50
Yearling steers averaged 595.7c/kg to a top of 746.2c/kg or $1880.94 to a top of $2431.38
Yearling heifers averaged 504.1c/kg to a top of 674.2c/kg or $1632.20 to a top of $2241.36
Steers averaged 450.3c/kg to a top of 481.2c/kg or $2545.90 to a top of $2942.64
Heifers averaged 404.4c/kg to a top of 450.2c/kg or $1861.78 to a top of $2586.64
Manufacturing steers averaged 349.2c/kg to return $2153.40
Cows averaged 374.7c/kg to a top of 400c/kg or $2053.56 to a top of $3153.60
Bulls averaged 413.7c/kg to a top of 518.2c/kg or $1756.49 to a top of $4273.66
Sheep and lamb numbers
Sheep and lamb numbers increased as the exporters again opened their order books for the stock on hand.
The yarding was mainly made up of good trade and butchers types as well as a run of heavier export types.
The 1319 head did not achieve the dizzy heights of last week’s sale, but the averages were a lot better with some good runs of suitable stock for both local and export buyers as well as back to the paddock.
Lambs topped at $230 to average $185.28 up $4/head on last week
Hoggets topped at $192 to average $157.43 down $46/head on last week
Ewes topped at $182 to average $130.95 down $84/head on last week
Wethers topped at $180 to average $147.56 down$7/head on last week
Rams topped at $190 to average $149.40 up $33/head on last week
Lamb rams topped at $195 to average $170.14 up $24/head on last week
Total sale average of $171.18/head was $15/head dearer than last week
Pig and poultry numbers
Pig numbers were still down but a larger number of feed on or stores were up for grabs.
Sows sold from $128 to $480/head, boars sold to $156/head, pork sold from $200 to $231/head and stores sold from $48 to $196/head
Poultry numbers continue to soar with Drakes selling to $15, Ducks selling to $15, Turkeys selling to $15, Roosters selling to $35, Hens to $10, Hens & chicks selling to $60, Jap Quails selling to $10.
McDougall and Sons sheep and lamb report
Agents yarded 1319 head for the weekly sale.
The top prices might not seem high but the average for lambs increased across the board by $4/head.
The larger yarding coincided with the return of both major exporters to the sales.
Lambs today topped at $230 to average $185.28 ($4up), hoggets topped at $192 to average $157.46 ($46down), ewes topped at $182 to average $130.95 ($84down), wethers topped at $180 to average $147.56 ($7down), rams topped at $190 to average $149.40 ($33up), lamb rams topped at $195 to average $170.14 ($24up).
The total sale yarding of 1319 head averaged $171.18 $15 /head up on last week.
• Carel Rothman sold Dorper lambs 49kg to Ashtons Butchery for $212, ram lambs 46kg to Easy Meats for $180
• Ralph Snars sold Dorper lambs 57kg to Fletchers International for $216, 46.25kg to restockers for $208
• Revel Cattle Co sold Dorper lambs 48.6kg to Ashtons Butchery for $209
• Stillwater Past Co sold Dorper wether lambs 42.2kg to Jock Young Meats for $196, 42.5kg ewe lambs to Clearwater Past for $193, ram lambs 42.3kg to Uniplaza Meats for $176
• Landers & Little sold Dorset 2nd x sucker lambs 46.6kg to GR Prime for $196
• Norma Chalk sold Dorper lambs 65kg to Fletchers International for $230, ram lambs 45kg to GR Prime for $182
• Phil & Gabe Byrnes sold Dorper lambs 43.2kg to GR Prime for $190, ram lambs 43.2kg to GR Prime for $165, 43.2kg mated ewe lambs to Jock Young Meats for $195, 48.6kg mated ewe lambs to Shelley F/T for $200
• Wilsonton High School sold Dorset x lambs 46.6kg to Tonys Supa Meats for $190, 42kg to GR Prime for $166, 37.5kg unshorn suckers to GR Prime for $161
• Paul Mc Laughlin sold Dorper x lambs 52.1kg to Uniplaza Meats for $205, ewe hoggets 52.2kg to Clearwater Past for $182
• Vermont Past Co sold 52kg Dorset 2nd x lambs to Thomas Foods for $199
• Gradenfloe Past Co sold Merino lambs 54kg , 52.8kg and 51.2kg to Thomas Foods for $193, $192, $189, wethers to Fletchers International for $172
• Univ of Qld Vet School sold Xbred wethers to Fletchers International for $180, to GR Prime for $157, ewes to Fletchers International for $136 and GR Prime for $80
• Richey Mc Cowen sold Merino wether lambs 39.5kg to restockers for $140, hoggets 39kg to Whites Trading for $124, wethers to restockers for $124
• Camrose P/S sold Dorper x ram lambs 63kg to Thomas Foods for $195, 66.1kg hoggets to Easy Meats for $192, 66.1kg ram hoggets to Whites Trading for $146, rams to restockers for $190 and to GR Prime for $150
• Bill Pechey sold Dorper x lambs 56.6kg to Fletchers International for $222, 45kg to restockers for $199, 66.6kg hoggets to Fletchers International for $176, 40kg lambs to Highchester Meats for $140
• Bogon Cattle Co sold Dorper x lambs 49.2kg to Uniplaza Meats for $199