Prices strong at cattle, sheep sales

Numbers were steady with 374 cattle yarded at Monday's cattle sale and the quality was a bit plainer.

Yearlings were limited in numbers with a large percentage grown steers and heifers of all weights. There were 69 cows penned.

Feeders were the driving force and the market sold to a stronger trend. Light steers to restock sold to 489c and heifers made to 468c/kg.

Feeder steers lifted 12c with most selling from 400c to 446c/kg. Medium and heavy feeder heifers sold 5c to 10c stronger and made from 405c and 440c/kg for most.

The few trade heifers sold from 366c to 420c/kg. A very limited supply of prime grown steers and bullocks sold 50c dearer making from 380c to 393c and heavy grown heifers were 40c better selling from 367c to 375c/kg.

Lighter grown steers to feed on made from 366c to 400c/kg. Most cows were 16c to 17c dearer with medium weight 3 score cows selling from 292c to 295c/kg.

Heavy 3 and 4 score cows sold from 265c to 310c/kg.

Lamb numbers eased and the quality was good with the bulk of the lambs heavy and extra heavy weights at Tuesday's lamb and sheep sale.

Trade lambs were in short supply and Dorpers fitted this order the best. Store lambs were very limited. Numbers fell to 13700 at this week's sale.

The market sold to a dearer trend. Store lambs were $5 to $10 dearer selling from $110 to $175/head.

Medium and heavy trade lambs were up $10 and sold from $180 to $196/head to average 890c/kg cwt.

Heavy lambs to 26kg made from $186 to $216 gaining $8 to $10/head and averaged from 820c to 860c/kg cwt for the lighter end.

Extra heavy lambs were firm, selling from $227 to $268/head.

The best of the heavy hoggets reached $230/head.