Mortlake store sale

MORTLAKE agents yarded 1,972 cattle at their store sale last week, representing a similar number to the week before.

Meat & Livestock Australia report the lead of the bullocks were very good, however declined quickly to the manufacturing types.

There was some improvement with the trade cattle on offer and fewer heavy beef cows were yarded with numbers increasing for the offering of plainer types and dairy breeds.

Most of the regular processors were present but not all were fully engaged with feeder and some restocker interest evident.

The offering consisted of 347 grown cattle, 540 trade along with 1048 cows and 54 bulls.

The market remained strong over most categories with the heavier grown cattle gaining 10 to 20c/kg with the best of the trade weights improving by 10 to 15c/kg.

Manufacturing types gained 5c/kg in places heavy beef cows remained firm however the medium weights lost 20c/kg in places, and grown bulls were 10c/kg dearer.

A small selection of vealers made a top of 350c/kg with trade weight steers and heifers making between 340 and 432c/kg.

Grown cattle topped at 395c/kg with manufacturing steers selling up to 320c/kg while heavy beef cows sold from 290 to 360c/kg with the medium weights selling from 240 to 280c/kg.

The better covered dairy cows were generally making between 220 and 310c/kg with grown beef bulls to 302c/kg.