There was a dramatic decline in numbers. Cattle were drawn from a wide area including South Australia and New South Wales plus a number of far Western Queensland districts with only around half of the yarding from local areas.
Overall quality also declined with some large consignments from drought affected districts. Prices lifted for a number of classes, however improvements were restricted in some categories due to the reduction in quality. Light weight yearling heifers sold to restockers or backgrounders 14c dearer and medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 6c/kg better.
Heavy grown steers and bullocks were too small in numbers to reliably quote. Plain condition cows to restockers experienced a lift in price however a relatively small sample of good heavy cows did not maintain the price levels of the previous sale.
Steer calves returning to the paddock reached 368.2c/kg. A very ordinary quality line up of light weight yearling steers sold to restockers at an average of 316c with some better lines to 346.2c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged close to 290c and made to 300.2c and a small sample of heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 276c and made to 290c/kg.
Light weight yearling heifers to restockers or background made to 309.2c with a large sample at 293c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 275c and made to 280.2c/kg.
A small number of bullocks averaged 271.2c/kg. Plain condition cows to restockers averaged 203c and made to 210c/kg.
Medium weight 2 score cows to processors averaged 200c and the best of the medium weights made to 217.2c to average 214c/kg. A few good heavy cows averaged close to 216c and made to 220c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 241.2c/kg.