Ballarat hits a high note

Agents assessed the stronger steer demand as $40-$60 a head dearer, however demand for heifers was equally impressive, improving sharply by $60-$80 to trade with a solid floor of 175-190c/kg lwt.

The 2512-head market produced a number of highlights including several sales of grown steers that achieved bids of $1000 or more.

These were snapped up by a keen gathering of South Gippsland bullock interests while the live export trade completed buying for a 15,000-head steer order for Russia underpinned Angus steer sales through the led drafts in the weaner run.

A large one-vendor consignment of 411 mixed-sex weaners trucked from Lucindale SA, by Seriston Pastoral also generated plenty of attention.

Selling to repeat competition on all lots the Seriston Angus steer weaners, 297kg (2nd-draft), made to $775, while the tops of its Charolais-Shorthorn steer line, 350kg, drew the same money.

Elders auctioneer Graeme Nicholson told Stock & Land that agents were reasonably confident the market would be a good one.

He said there were good indications from sales held over the past fortnight, particularly for Angus weaners that the demand would remain strong.

TB White & Son's Gerard White agreed and said prices of 200-210c/kg lwt for grown steers have not been seen for a good while.

"We haven't seen this level of pricing in prime markets as yet but there is every indication it might become the norm in the New Year," he said.

Opening the sale, B&G Cahill sold a pen of six Angus steers, 521kg, at $1005. These were captured by South Gippsland agency Elders Korumburra, while Landmark Leongatha paid $1000/hd for a yard of 12 Angus steers, 528kg, offered by the Newlyn Football Club.

R Tweddle sold 15 Angus steers, 489kg, at $985 a head to Teys Feedlot Jindalee, NSW while Oakdale Meats paid $1000 a head for nine Angus steers, 543kg, sold by Mayfair and Toose.

The Elders Korumburra order also bid $960 a head to win a yard of 18 Angus steers, 454kg offered by Andrew Cogger while a second pen of the Cogger Angus steers, 397kg, went to Landmark Leongatha at $820.

Most other sales of heavy grown steers made $880-$970 and averaged 192c/kg lwt while light yearling-off steers made $720-$900 and av 200c/kg.

An impressive display of 14-drop weaner cattle saw sales top at $850.

Teys Charlton Feedlot paid the best money for a yard of 12 Angus steers 391kg offered by DJ&LJ Sewell and also booked (at $810) a pen of 20 Angus steers, 370kg, sold by G O'Loughlan.

EV&LE Thomson, Bests Winery, Great Western sold a yard of 14 Angus steers, 376kg at $830 to Livestock Shipping Services (LSS) while the boat order also claimed 20 Angus 367kg, at $815, from E&J Baker and 12 Angus, 380kg, at $820 from R Taylor in a 210-head sweep of the market.

Thomas Foods International (TFI) paid $750 for 31 Angus steers, 344kg, sold by PD Hallyburton while Elders Pakenham paid $765 for 20 Seriston Angus steers, 317kg while the seconds at 297kg as mentioned above made $775.

Most sales of heavier steer weaners made $600-$775 to av 228-230c/kg lwt while lighter steers made $580-$660 and av 235-240c/kg lwt.

Sales of grown heifers saw good numbers sold in the $650-$780 price bracket, with two isolated pens of Limousin heifers at $850.

Weaner heifers were mostly sold between $560-$680 while light heifers fetched $520-$620 resulting in good numbers realising 200-225c/kg.

Orders from the North East and South West border districts also supported the sale along with buyers from the Yarra Valley and central Victoria.