Scone Stock Report: August 6

By Stuart Sheldrake

THERE were 1,100 cattle yarded at the Scone sale yards today, a few less than last week’s yarding.

There is still quite a few numbers due to a good market and deteriorating conditions.

The difference was probably not as many cows yarded this week, however good cows were firm to five cents cheaper, plainer cows were 10 to 15 cheaper.

There was a very good yarding of yearling cattle penned.

The feeder market was very strong, feeder steers and heifers were another five to 10 cents dearer.

There was a good supply of butcher calves, they were a good ten cents dearer.

However, lighter cattle, like lighter weaner cattle to go back to the paddock were cheaper again and that’s just due to the weather. 

The buyers were similar to the week before, still getting some reseller competition out of the south and there are definitely some feedlot operators interested due to the meat job getting dearer.

There will be a shortage rather soon as numbers dry up.

Normally the lighter cattle would make more cents that your heavier cattle, but we’re actually seeing heavier cattle making more.

It’s odd to see weaner cattle making the same cents or less than cows, because of the lack of kill cattle available and the lack of cattle to be fattened to be killed. 

A lot of the feed lots are owned by export companies and they can see that they may have trouble finding cattle soon, so they are filling their own feedlots to have supply during the next few months when numbers fall short.