Echuca Cattle Report

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Report Date: 22nd July 2026

Total Yarding: 1,710

Commentary

Numbers increased to 1710 cattle or 300 more. There was less really good top end grainfed processing cattle and more mixed bred and half finished types in this bigger yarding. Not all the regular meat buyers attended, but an additional feedlot from the south was active and there was also a store order from the Gippsland area. Demand and bidding tended to break-up around quality and it became something of a two speed market. The very best high yielding steers and heifers off grain matched recent markets at up to 564c/kg. Feedlot demand was strong, particularly for lines of good black steers at up to 565/kg. Restockers remained keen on well bred light calves and paid to the market top of 574c/kg. But once auctioneers came off the top cattle and onto steers and heifers with less shape and quality these were cheaper by 10c to 20c, with plainer heifers tending to be the main category dragged back. Cow prices varied a few cents either side of last week’s rates.

Demand for highly muscled trade cattle remained robust at 500c to a top of 564c/kg for a 420kg steer, with the majority of sales from 520c to 545c/kg. The market was a little sticky at times for heavier grainfed cattle weighing over 500kg liveweight which sold from 482c to 546c/kg. Once off the lead run of young cattle the rate for the more mixed types of yearling and grown steers and heifers was 430c to 490c/kg.

Best beef cows 390c to a top of 420c/kg, followed by the leaner and lighter types at 350c to 385c/kg. Good Friesian cows 360c to 380c/kg; plainer dairys mostly 300cto 340c/kg. Some handy Fed Friesian steers reached 432c/kg.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly