As often happens in a rapidly-rising market like this, saleyards slaughter cattle prices have pulled ahead of direct consignment values in comparative terms for the time being – despite some hefty 30-40c kicks in over-the-hooks grids in Queensland last week. Some markets observers suggest slaughter cattle previously booked earlier with processors on space only (no price attached) have since been diverted into the saleyards channel to exploit the dramatic surge that has happened through the saleyards channel.