MORTLAKE agents yarded 750 head at the final market for the year on Monday, representing a considerable drop to the previous week, however it was in line with most eastern markets where auction numbers declined significantly also.

The overall quality of the offering was very good. Grown cattle and bullocks presented with weight with very few dairy bred manufacturing steers available. The cow offering had a fair lead of dairy breeds for buyers. The market was a little subdued with a small field of buyers on the rail operating on 130 grown cattle, 320 trade along with 270 cows and 37 bulls.  

Grown cattle and manufacturing steers lost 10c/kg overall as the sale progressed and the trade cattle were erratic at times dependent on the quality offered softening 15 to 20c/kg. Cows were easier by up to 50c over most categories and bulls lost 10 to 20c/kg.

There was a small offering of vealers selling between 218 and 274c/kg. Trade steers and heifers were making between 200 and 260c/kg. Grown cattle topped at 260c/kg with manufacturing steers selling up to 188c/kg. Heavy beef cows sold from 168 to 195c with the medium weights between 140 and 165c/kg. Dairy cows were generally selling between 144 and 185c with grown beef bulls to 210c/kg.

Sale summary:

Bulls (0-700kg): top 195.0c/kg, avg 169.1c/kg, top $1303.40p/hd, avg $1037.94p/hd.

Bulls (700+kg): top 205.0c/kg, avg 179.1c/kg, top $2128.00p/hd, avg $1493.95p/hd.

Light Heifers (0-350kg): top 224.0c/kg, avg 159.6c/kg, top $734.72p/hd, avg $480.13p/hd.

Light Steers (0-350kg): top 245.0c/kg, avg 202.2c/kg, top $818.30p/hd, avg $647.14p/hd.

Trade Heifers (351-500kg): top 240.0c/kg, avg 203.7c/kg, top $1140.82p/hd, avg $871.39p/hd.

Trade Steers (351-500kg): top 274.0c/kg, avg 211.9c/kg, top $1185.05p/hd, avg $853.18p/hd.

Heavy Heifers (500+kg): top 222.0c/kg, avg 203.5c/kg, top $1439.36p/hd, avg $1128.21p/hd.

Heavy Steers (500+kg): top 273.0c/kg, avg 226.0c/kg, top $1532.28p/hd, avg $1283.67p/hd.

Grown Heifers: top 198.0c/kg, avg 177.9c/kg, top $1239.48p/hd, avg $893.77p/hd.

Grown Steers: top 260.0c/kg, avg 218.6c/kg, top $1651.20p/hd, avg $1284.23p/hd.

Cows: top 195.0c/kg, avg 163.5c/kg, top $1665.30p/hd, avg $918.90p/hd.

Bullocks: top 268.0c/kg, avg 213.9c/kg, top $1718.87p/hd, avg $1331.06p/hd.

Weaner Heifers: top 300.0c/kg, avg 237.7c/kg, top $1122.00p/hd, avg $943.64p/hd.

Weaner Steers: top 273.0c/kg, avg 235.7c/kg, top $1255.80p/hd, avg $908.93p/hd.