After another month, markets across all categories are still staying strong. With water slowly starting to recede and
some strong numbers starting to hit the markets, we have interesting times ahead. Cattle are still reaching record prices with very strong restocker activity pushing prices to high rates with restocking steers and heifers fetching from $3.80 and up to $4.50c/kg. Kill cattle are reaching steady prices for good kill steers and heifers making from
$3.50 to $4.00c/kg. There is strong competition for breeders as well with some mixed age cows and calves making in excess of $3,000 per unit. These prices are a good indication of confidence in the future of the cattle market.

Sheep and lamb markets are starting to feel a little pressure with more numbers on the market. The restocking market for sheep ramped up with good 1st X ewes making well over $200 and very good joinable oneyear merino ewes up to $250. Restocking lambs are hard to buy unless you have a big cheque book, with store lambs making from
$90 to $120.

In the fat market, prices are starting to ease with more numbers becoming available to purchase. Prices for very good suckers make from $5.50 to $5.80c/kg and the best of the mutton make up towards $4.00c/kg. I believe all livestock prices will ease over the coming month but will remain relatively strong.

By Adam Chudleigh

Week ending 6 October 2016
A smaller than expected offering and an easing in the AUD saw this week’s market open on a solid note, leaving
the NRI to close the week 8 cents dearer at 1341. Wednesday’s market saw most merino fleece types gain 5 cents with some strong buying pressure on the 18.5 and the 19.5 microns areas. Thursday’s market was overall firm with the
fine to medium microns slightly dearer, while the broader microns were just off the pace, with the higher mid break
lots lacking some buyer support.

Merino skirtings gained 20-30 cents for the better style finer types with low Vm, while other types remained firm.
Oddments were also well supported, with Locks & crutchings closing fully firm, while stains were 10-15 cents dearer.
This week’s crossbred offering was firm and unchanged for 26 micron and broader on a limited offering.
Next week’s market is currently forecast at 37,681 bales.

A total of 566 animals were sold at the pig sale last Friday. The trend of the sale saw pork selling for $5 to $10 dearer, bacon sold for $5 to $10 dearer, and backfatter remained firm. Price range on the day for the different categories were:
• Weaners: $80 to $136
• Light pork: $148 to $193
• Heavy pork: $158 to $215
• Light bacon: no result
• Heavy Bacon: $272 to $320
• Light Backfatter: $139 to $235.50
• Heavy Backfatter: $463 to $557.10

The next sale will take place on Friday, 16th September. Contact Murray Reid on 0488 432 207 at VC Reid & Son for more information.

Week ending 1/9/16
Fremantle re-join the selling program this week, pushing the national offering to 40,553 bales. The majority of the wool catalogued was freshly shorn and had not been offered previously, a reflection of the recent buoyant market.

The fleece market opened to a stronger tone and continued to the week progressed. All types and microns generally enjoyed gains of 10 to 20 cents, with the superfine range coming under close scrutiny, particularly with Sydney hosting a designated superfine sale, where premiums of up to 200 cents emerged for selected lots.

Although the focus was squarely on the better types, the strength also carried through into good style and parttender types. The skirting market also continued to perform well, with buyers showing the most interest for wellgrown low vm types.

Crossbreds had mixed results, weakness in the 30/32 micron range was overshadowed by good support for 25 to 28 microns, and while the oddment market was solid, it closed at similar levels to last sale.

Things just keep getting better. What a month it has been: we have seen both sheep and cattle reach record highs, especially in the cattle market. With widespread rain over the last month we are seeing the makings of a great season, which is fantastic.

On the sheep side of the market we have seen all markets very strong. We are also noticing a good number of new season suckers coming onto the market that are receiving very strong competition and seeing the best of them make up $160 and $170, but take note with more numbers due to come onto the market these prices will only be sustainable for the best of them. On the trade and export markets we are still seeing prices in the mid to high $6/kg for the better finished lambs. The mutton market is still kicking along very strongly with most grades hovering around the 400c/kg mark.

The cattle market is still going from strength to strength with good feeder cattle attracting record prices with well bred steers reaching up to $4.25c/kg. These prices are bringing some great returns for clients. We are still seeing some good lines of grain fed cattle coming through the yards with grain fed steers making $3.40 to $3.90/kg, and the heifer portion making up to $3.70/kg. The cow market is still very strong with some of the best euro cows making in excess of $2.90/kg, but the majority of the good 3 and 4 score cows are still around the $2.50-$2.80/kg mark.

With spring just around the corner we are starting to see some strong activity from restockers trying to either restock or make use of ample feed. I think during the spring we will see very strong competition for all types of restocker livestock. With all this in mind I think we are in for very interesting times.

For any other information on market trends or marketing options don’t hesitate to call us.

By Adam Chudleigh

A total of 690 animals were sold at the pig sale last Friday. The trend of the sale saw pork selling for $10 to $20 dearer, bacon remained firm and backfatter went for $5 to $10 cheaper.

Price range on the day for the different categories were:
• Weaners: $64 to $128
• Light pork: $134 to $148                                                                                      Heavy pork: $176 to $192
• Light bacon: $180 to $204
• Heavy Bacon: $240 to $320
• Light Backfatter: $55,04 to $275,65
• Heavy Back fatter: $335.96 to $470.40
The next sale will take place on Friday, 19th August. Contact Murray Reid on 0488 432 207 at VC Reid & Son for more information.