Good rain across the supply area and an increase in prices over the last fortnight has helped to lift confidence.

This resulted in numbers increasing by more than double for a mixed quality yarding at WVLX Mortlake on Monday.

The entire regular buying group was present and there was some strong competition in the cow run, driving prices up in most categories.

Veal was limited making from 240c to 275c/kg.

A good number of trade cattle were offered today suiting the domestic market, driving prices up in both the steer and heifer run.

The best of the trade weight steers lifted another 13c, making from 245c to 290c.

The heifers increased by 15c, receiving from 250c to 296c/kg.

Feeder cattle lifted up to 23c in places due to quality steers, making from 230c to 245c.

Meanwhile, the heifers sold from 225c to 255c/kg.

Today's offering of grown steers and bullocks were mixed, with some cattle lacking finish and returning to feed.

Domestic processors paid from 250c to 284c keeping the market firm, while grown heifers eased slightly making from 215c to 250c/kg.

There were some good heavy well finished beef cows suiting the export buyers, along with some young cows bought by lot feeders.

The best of the heavy 4 score beef cows sold from 215c to 235c, lifting 4c/kg.

The tops of the feeder cows sold up to 240c/kg.

The better dairy portion sold from 164c to 196c, with the light 1 score cows making from 125c to 142c/kg.

The small number of bulls sold to the usual buying group in a firm market, receiving from 202c to 228c/kg.

COWS

1 Ang Hfd X 700kg @ 232c/kg, $1624ph Wonboyn

1 Ang 612kg @ 232c/kg, $1420ph Corangamite View

2 Ang X 540kg @ 200c/kg, $1080ph Hillside

2 Ang 447kg @ 214c/kg, $958ph CB & SL McLeod

2 Char X 498kg @ 188c/kg, $935ph Peela Park

BULLOCKS

4 BB 535kg @ 272c/kg, $1455ph DJ & MA Trigg

4 Hfd 570kg @ 268c/kg, $1528ph DJ & MA Trigg

6 Frs X 518kg @ 210c/kg, $1088ph S & E McKenzie

HEIFERS

1 Ang 482kg @ 245c/kg, $1181ph King Isle Farms

4 Ang 496kg @ 230c/kg, $1141ph King Isle Farms

1 Frs 446kg @ 194c/kg, $865ph S & E McKenzie

COWS

1 Ang 660kg @ 227c/kg, $1498ph King Isle Farms

1 Ang 538kg @ 193c/kg, $1038ph King Isle Farms

STEERS

2 Char X 407kg @ 240c/kg, $978ph R Aldridge

HEIFERS

1 BB 452kg @ 250c/kg, $1130ph R Aldridge

1 Ang 430kg @ 250c/kg, $1075ph R Aldridge

BULLOCKS

6 Hfd 566kg @ 284c/kg, $1607ph Bell Pastoral

2 MG 652kg @ 242c/kg, $1579ph P & P Lock

VEALERS

2 Ang 390kg @ 250c/kg, $975ph IR & K Bradshaw

4 Hfd X 355kg @ 247c/kg, $877ph Couch P'Ship

6 Ang 305kg @ 245c/kg, $747ph Couch P'Ship

TRADE HEIFERS

6 Ang 492kg @ 274c/kg, $1350ph IR & K Bradshaw

1 Ang 476kg @ 265c/kg, $1261ph Couch P'Ship

2 Ang 685kg @ 250c/kg, $1713ph A & IR & K Bradshaw

COWS

6 Ang 693kg @ 235c/kg, $1630ph IR & K Bradshaw

3 Ang 647kg @ 232c/kg, $1500ph Naweenda

11 Ang 646kg @ 224c/kg, $1448ph RV & S Cuzens

BULLOCKS

6 Hfd X 648kg @ 252c/kg, $1633ph F & C Vogels

STEERS

5 Ang 521kg @ 288c/kg, $1500ph L & H Delaney

7 Char 500kg @ 278c/kg, $1390ph F & C Vogels

HEIFERS

1 Ang 368kg @ 277c/kg, $1019ph P & J Bodey

1 Ang X 568kg @ 230c/kg, $1306ph Scanlons Dairy Centre

COWS

7 Ang 636kg @ 224c/kg, $1425ph N Blain

2 Simm 643kg @ 220c/kg, $1415ph M Baxter

4 Hfd 688kg @ 222c/kg, $1527ph F & C Vogels

7 Hfd 546kg @ 220c/kg, $1201ph Scanlons Dairy Centre

5 Hfd 579kg @ 192c/kg, $1112ph Ennerdale

BULLS

1 Hfd 1124kg @ 220c/kg, $2473ph Ennerdale

1 Ang 594kg @ 220c/kg, $1307ph L & H Delaney

1 MG 564kg @ 220c/kg, $1241ph N Blain

STEERS

2 Red Ang 508kg @ 270c/kg, $1370ph Ware Pastoral Co

2 Red Ang 433kg @ 274c/kg, $1185ph Ware Pastoral Co

HEIFERS

7 Red Ang 451kg @ 296c/kg, $1334ph Ware Pastoral Co

COWS

6 Ang 647kg @ 223c/kg, $1442ph Toolang Pastoral Co

3 Frs 688kg @ 196c/kg, $1349ph Beasley Family Trust

1 Frs 672kg @ 196c/kg, $1317ph DJ & LR Brown

2 Ang 530kg @ 231c/kg, $1224ph Toolang Pastoral Co

3 Ang 567kg @ 202c/kg, $1145ph Toolang Pastoral Co

3 Ang 477kg @ 240c/kg, $1144ph Toolang Pastoral Co

9 Frs 609kg @ 187c/kg, $1139ph DJ & LR Brown

3 Ang 462kg @ 236c/kg, $1090ph Toolang Pastoral Co

1 Frs 616kg @ 166c/kg, $1023ph Beasley Family Trust

1 Ang 478kg @ 210c/kg, $1004ph Toolang Pastoral Co

Monday, April 8: Prime Market, 9am

Thursday, April 11: Store Sale, 10am

Monday, April 15: Prime Market, 9am

Monday, April 22: No Market (Easter Monday)

Monday, April 29: Prime Market, 9am

A fortnight ago, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) was trading under 400¢.

Thankfully, rainfall of 100-200mm has been noted for significant areas of south-western Queensland from the remnant activity of tropical Cyclone Trevor and this has helped to boost optimism among cattle producers.

The strength of the rebound in price from the low 400s has been resounding.

The EYCI closed the week at 494¢/kg cwt.

The updated three-month rainfall outlook released last week also paints a pretty good picture with almost all the country expected to see a 50/50 chance of an average autumn break, in terms of rainfall.

Cattle prices across the board have mirrored the recovery in the EYCI with all NLRS reported categories along the east coast posting gains between 2-13 per cent on the week.

In the west, young cattle prices softened, albeit slightly, with the WYCI down 3¢ on the week.

Offshore, the 90CL frozen cow indicator remains firm with a gain of 2.4¢ to close at 655.5¢/kg CIF

*Mecardo Ag Concepts