BUYERS were buoyed by the prospects of a good spring at the Ballarat store sale earlier today, pushing grown steer values up by $50-$70 a head.
TB White & Sons’ Gerard White said prices were up right across the 1350-head yarding, compared to the previous sale.
“With the potential of a good spring looming, people are on the lookout for stock,” he said, adding that a lack of numbers had also played a role in the recent higher prices.
Grown steers topped at $965 on a pen of eight Angus steers, Rossander-blood, which tipped the scales at 473kg, for local vendor Alan McCartney, of Burrumbeet.
Mr McCartney sold 25 Angus steers (15 to 16 months) altogether from $840 to the top price, or an equivalent of 204-218 cents/kg.
“I did keep them on a bit longer than normal, because the season was better and I had extra hay,” Mr McCartney said.
The producer, who runs about 50 cows, admitted he was “quite pleased” with the result.
Most other grown steers were quoted from 190-210c/kg.
Weaner steers also improved in price by $50-$80, making 220-250c/kg.
Mr White also said heifers gained as much as $40-$50, quoting grown heifers from 185-190c/kg and weaner heifers up to 240c/kg.
Cows and calves topped at $1250 on a pen of 18 mixed-age Angus cows with calves at foot, which had been redepastured, account Fawcett Partnership, Clunes.
These were snapped up by Rodwells’ Kilmore livestock agent Peter Linehan on behalf of Andrew Stone, Pyalong.
“It’s very hard to find cows and calves at the moment,” Mr Linehan said, adding the calves were “outstanding”.
“I was hoping to pay somewhere around $1150.”
Mr Stone said the cows were very even - and would help to build up his stock numbers.
Feedlots bid strongly on the heavier cattle and better-bred weaners, with competition coming from Jindalee, NSW, as well as Midfield Meats and Thomas Foods International.
Local buyers were also very active.
