Cows weighing between 400 and 520 kilograms last week averaged 152 cents a kilogram, which was down from 159c/kg recorded in December according to the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS).

It was a similar story to last year where cows in the same category were just one cent lower at 151c/kg.

Landmark Armidale livestock account manager Chris Williams said the market for females in the New England had opened 2012 to reasonably strong rates, but not as strong as the close of last year, reflecting the State-wide trend.

“Generally at the beginning of each year the processors are trying to gauge the market and see who is buying what,” Mr Williams said.

“Before Christmas, the best of the prime cows were making 180 cents a kilogram, but at the sale last week they were down to about 170c/kg to 172c/kg.”

He said the weaner and vealer hei-

fers had been making from 230c/kg to 240c/kg.

Overall, it was still an encouraging market, driven by competition for females going to both restockers as well as to slaughter

“It is also down to seasonal conditions: there has been a great season throughout the New England, with plenty of great feed available,” he said.

“The quality of the cattle in the New England is second to none.”

Aside from the cows, he said a lot of the older heifers were going to feeders, whereas the vealer heifers were going to both slaughter and to the restockers.

“From February to May, we will see the bigger lines of weaners come on to the market,” Mr Williams said.

At the annual Wodonga female sales last week quality breeders were in solid demand and sold well.

With the shortage of quality breeders available for sale, buyers were prepared to travel vast distances to obtain stock.

At the three days of sales at Wodonga last week buyers travelled from Walgett, Coonamble, Holbrook, Tallangatta, Nowra, Wagga Wagga, Bega, Cootamundra, Deniliquin and the Victorian towns of Bendigo, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Bairnsdale and Benalla.