It was a smaller yarding at the NRLX this week with 1235 head.
Casino Auctioneers Association president Mark McCormack said prices were cheaper overall this week.
There was an extra buyer in the weaner steer market that helped but we were missing a major meat processor in the grown cattle market, he said.
Next week, Mr McCormack doesn’t expect many cattle because of the upcoming Easter break.
Doug Robson from Meat and Livestock Australia said it was the first time for several weeks that there was a fall in cattle numbers at the sale.
There was a good supply of young cattle and there was a fair penning of cows.
The yarding of young cattle was mainly vealers and weaner cattle with a few less yearlings yarded this week.
Quality was mixed, although there were several lines of well-bred cattle through the sale.
Most of the young cattle went to restockers in a cheaper market with weaner steers selling 5c to 10c cheaper depending on quality, some of the plain cattle were heavily discounted.
Restocker weaners sold from 218c to 396c, while restocker weaner heifers ranged from 180c to 282c.
Vealers to process sold from 178c to 230c/kg.
There were only a few yearlings, the steers sold from 225c to 340c and yearling heifers topped at 248c/kg.
The yarding of export cattle consisted mainly of cows.
The few grown steers sold from 240c to 275c and grown heifers sold to 256c/kg.
The yarding of cows was fairly mixed this week in a market that was down by 20c with 2 score cows selling from 156c to 189c and 3 scores averaged 191c/kg. The 4 score cows sold from 200c to 215c/kg.
Report compiled by Doug Robson from MLA with comments from agent Mark McCormack
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