There was a small increase in the number of cattle sold at Mortlake today, an increase of 25 to total 525 head. Quality was mixed, with a very good run of cows being offered today, both beef and dairy. All the regular processes were in attendance, plus one additional processor returning, however not all operated in the firm to dearer market. Feeders and restockers were very active throughout the market on suitable lines. There was a better selection of heifers in the yearling section of the sale today outweighing the steers for quality. Yearling steers to the trade sold from 281c to 306c, as heifers to the trade received from 290c to 311c, while feeders and restocker paid a premium for yearlings, making from 290c to 330c/kg. C3 and C4 grown steers and bullocks made from 281c to 332c, with a heifer portion making from 200 up to 285c/kg, which was firm on last week's market. Manufacturing bullocks sold to 315c/kg. There was a very good selection of C4 and C3 beef cows, as well as C2 dairy cows, competition for the cows was 20c/kg dearer this week. Heavy 3 and 4 score beef cows lifted 20c, making from 265c to 288c/kg. Light cows sold from 180c to 245c/kg. Bulls were also dearer, increasing 15c/kg on last week's prices.

HEIFERS

1 x ANG 456.1kg @ 290c/kg, $1322.72 Wairere Partnership

1 x ANG 452.5kg @ 272c/kg, $1230.80 Wairere Partnership

1 x ANG 406.1kg @ 286c/kg, $1161.48 Wairere Partnership

1 x ANG 418kg @265c/kg, $1107.7 Wairere Partnership

COWS

1 x FR 668kg @ 268c/kg, $1790.24 Dixie Ridge Farm

1 x FR 634kg @268c/kg, $1699.12 Margyle Enterprises

1 x FR 593kg @268c/kg, $1589.24 Margyle Enterprises

1 x FR 620 kg @ 230c/kg, $1426 Mick Scanlan

BULLOCKS

1 ANG 576kg @ 3.12c/kg, $1797ph Como Park

7 HRD X 575kg @ 2.80c/kg, $1612 D & R Regan

2 FRS 755 kg @ 2.72c/kg, $2053 T & S Noy

STEERS

1 x ANG X 374 kg @2.50c/kg, $935 A Nolan

HEIFERS

12 HFD X 440kg @3.05c/kg, $1342 DC Phillips

1 SIMM X 410kg@ 2.5c/kg, $1025 P Smith

1 RED ANG 410kg @2.5c/kg, $1025 S & K Guthrie

COWS

3 HFD 708.3kg @2.85c/kg, $2019 N & J Lillie

1 ANG 624kg @2.81c/kg, $1753 V & C Goy

7 ANG 441 kg @ 2.70c/kg, $1192 L Allan

8 SANLA 475kg @2.6c/kg, $1235 S & K Guthrie

BULLS

1 ANG 820kg @ 2.55c/kg, $2091 V & C Goy

BULLOCKS

1 X BB 567kg @332c/kg, $1184 Roger Wilkinson

1 x ANG 520kg @ 330c/kg, $1716 JD Gibson & JL Colbert

STEERS

1 x ANG 478 kg @315c/kg, $1508 JD Gibson & JL Colbert

1 ANG 480kg @ 311c/kg, $1492 Rock View Flats

1 x ANG 458kg @ 310c/kg, $1419 Rock View Flats

1 x ANG 480kg@298c/kg, $1430 Rock View Flats

VEALERS

1 X /ANG HFR 363kg @ 275c/kg, $999 J Atkins

HEIFERS

1 x ANG 501kg @ 319c/kg, $1598 JD Gibson & JL Colbert

1 x BB 460kg @ 306c/kg, $1407 Rock View Flats

1 x ANG 410kg @ 268c/kg, $1098 Rock View Flats

COWS

1 X BB 512kg @255c/kg, $1305 Spring Gully

1 x ANG 508kg @ 225c/kg, $1143 Spring Gully

BULLOCKS

1 x ANG 720kg @319c/kg, $2296 McNamara Dairying

TRADE STEERS

4 ANG 486 kg @308c/kg, $1498 WJ & HE Beavis

2 ANG 436kg @306c/kg, $1331 L & JL Thompson

2 HFD 480 kg @300c/kg, $1441 WJ & HE Beavis

TRADE HEIFERS

1 ANG 464 kg @ 285c/kg, $1322 McNamara Dairying

2 ANG 488kg @ 270c/kg, $1316 Boortkoi

COWS

4 ANG 658kg @ 288c/kg, $1894 Boortkoi

5 BB 644 kg @ 288c/kg, $1855 Eilyer Pastoral

3 HFD790kg @ 286c/kg, $2259 Eilyer Pastoral

1 ANG 926kg @ 260c/kg, $2408 Bell Pastoral

Thursday, July 18: Store Sale, 10am

Monday, July 22: Prime Market, 9am

Monday, July 29: Prime Market, 9am

Monday, August 5: Prime Market, 9am

Monday, August 12: Prime Market, 9am

For week ending July 12.

The second week of the new selling season maintained the strong tone of the previous week with gains across all Merino Price Guides (MPGs) in all three selling centres. The three-week sale recess sparked demand from buyers as they competed at the last auction before August 7. Just over 34,000 bales were on offer this week with 31,923 bales sold resulting in a pass-in rate of 6.3 per cent.

Strong competition for all descriptions and types pushed saw increases in all MPGs in Sydney on Wednesday. Keen buyer demand continued on Thursday, particularly for MF4 and MF5 lots with favourable additional measurements. These lots increased by 20 to 30 cents compared to those with lower strength and higher midbreaks which remained at the previous days levels. The Northern Regional Indicator rose 42 cents to 1780 c/kg clean and the Northern Merino Carding Indicator gained 29 cents to 1010 c/kg clean. The Sydney pass-in rate was 5.4 per cent.

Wednesday's Melbourne sale started well and gained strength during the day. All MPGs gained in value. Thursday's sale was also robust with further gains in all MPGs. Finer ( 19.0 m) lots with best style and favourable additional measurements attracted premiums. Skirtings strengthened across both sale days with increases of up to 65 cents. Crossbred lots increased, particularly those which had been well-prepared. Oddment lots increased, led by lots with low VM. The Southern Regional Indicator gained 24 cents to 1,737 c/kg clean and the Southern Merino Carding Indicator jumped 51 cents to 990 c/kg clean. The Melbourne pass-in rate was 5.2 per cent.

A single sale day in Fremantle produced increases of 25 to 30 cents across all MPGs from 18.0 to 21.0 m. Steady competition saw the Merino Skirtings sector gain 25 to 30 cents with oddment lots also trending dearer. The Western Regional Indicator closed at 1,894 c/kg clean up 27 cents. The Western Merino Carding Indicator rose by 9 cents to 990 c/kg clean. The Fremantle pass-in rate was 12.4 per cent.

Cattle numbers from Queensland dipped to 1582 last week, 612 fewer than the previous week. However, the drop in numbers did not impact buyer confidence, with sales nationally seeing an increase in prices on most stock categories and a 91 per cent clearance achieved across all sales. Queensland saw an 87pc clearance, drawing buyers from southern Queensland, and the central west and Hunter regions of NSW. Light restocker heifers under 280kg saw strong demand, selling from 202c to 284c, averaging 246c, up 22c. Heifers 280k-350kg sold from 265c to 305c averaging, 283c. Steers under 280kg averaged 297c, down 11c and ranged from 250c to 310c.