Echuca Cattle Report

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Report Date: 15th April 2026

Total Yarding: 921

Commentary

Numbers nearly doubled to 921 cattle after the disrupted Easter weeks. This yarding was more mixed for quality, with less top-end high yielding European breed trade steers and heifers available. Not all the regular buyers attended in a market which had a softer tone across most categories including stores and feeders, although the best young cattle and grown steers were close to firm. The lead beef cows were a few cents off the pace of a week ago, however a bigger offering of lean dairy cows were noticeably cheaper.

The very best vealers and grainfed Euros sold from 485c to a top of 525c/kg to be close to firm but noting auctioneers did find it more difficult to entice buyers above 500c today, Bidding for the general run of young cattle was 5c to 10c easier with some sales down by up to 20c/kg and demand gaps did emerge for some of the plainer bred and shaped trade cattle. This kept the majority of sales moving around in a range of 430c to 475c/kg, this rate covering most yearlings and grown heifers. Noting overall quality was back with more varied breeds and shapes coming through the ring. Restockers paid to 490c/kg for a nice line of young Angus steers in a softer result. Feeders paid to 486c/kg for shapey young Euro calves to go onto grain.

The better style beef cows 360 to 388c/kg. The lead of the Friesian and quality Jersey cows sold from 300c to 345c/kg, with plainer and lighter dairys 150c to 280c/kg. There was still robust competition from feeders and traders for grown steers with frame including crossbreds at 420c to 485c/kg. Some heavier fed steers over 550kg sold to 486c/kg to processors.

Market reporter: Jenny Kelly