The cow market jump is reflected in the 400 to 520 kilogram D3 cow indicator reaching 134.5c/kg in the middle of this week.

That’s a lift of 2.4c/kg on the past week and a rise of 6.2c/kg compared with the past month.

National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) market analyst, Sally Milne, said the indicator had not been this high since late August last year when it went on to peak at 141c/kg.

Miss Milne said on the domestic livestock side, processor demand for cows had remained reasonably solid despite exchange rate pressures, which would be due to a combination of tighter supplies and market conditions within their overseas markets.

Elders Coonamble, NSW, branch manager, John Grouge, said the cow market there had been similar to other centres, with prices increasing during the past four to six weeks.

He said better cows were making 145c/kg-plus and the main run were making 140c/kg to 145c/kg.

“Cows have been selling up to 30c/kg dearer, which shows the underlying strength in demand of export beef,” he said.

“Our last sale was the biggest yarding since 2004 and we also had a very large contingent of buyers, but prices were still good.”

He said numbers had built up, as the past couple of sales were cancelled due to rain and because Clyde Agriculture had 600 cattle in the sale.

“The strong cow trend surprises me, especially because of where the dollar is sitting.”

Further south, Corcoran Parker livestock agent, Leigh Matthews, Wodonga, Victoria, said the cow market had been good, with best cows selling in the mid-150c/kg and younger cows selling in the mid-160c/kg range.

Mr Matthews said the prices were 10c/kg better than a month ago, but 30c/kg dearer than six to eight weeks ago.