Buzz as Casterton weaners hit 202c/kg

The sale quality was praised as the factor behind the firm prices, with a reduction in numbers from the advertised 1600 to 1200 cutting most of the lighter and tail-end cattle out of the JP Darcy Livestock sale.

Southern feedlots dominated the buying fraternity, with S Kidman & Co, Landmark Leongatha, Thomas Food International, Baulch Feedlots, BR&C Agents Swan Hill and Miller Whan & John knocking down most of the yarding.

Return buyers and vocal supporters of Casterton region cattle, King Island's Ian Lester and Peter Aldridge purchased 126 steers and 94 steers and heifers, respectively.

Top-range prices for Angus steers rose to 178-202 cents a kilogram, while European cattle sold at 180-190c/kg.

The first two pens sold to 187c/kg, or $698, for 51 Angus steers, weighing 373kg, by Pathfinder sires.

The pens were part of an offering from Sunnyside, Casterton, of 163 Angus weaners that averaged 181c/kg or $564.

Herefords were in demand selling to the sale-high, with majority going to King Island, Leongatha and Baulch Feedlot.

Trevellas Park, Casterton, offered 49 Hereford steers that sold to 192c/kg and av 186c/kg or $603.

A third-year supporter of the sale, Mr Lester said prices were consistent with those of his past two visits.

"Prices were what we expected, because they were almost identical to what we paid last year for the cattle we bought with similar weights," he said.

"It doesn't take much to turn a cattle sale around. There were the South Gippsland buyers and we were there too - just a few extra buyers."

Mr Lester purchased 21 of the sought-after Seymour Park Hereford-Shorthorn heifers, in-calf to Malton Shorthorn sires for a March/April-drop, but lost the top pen to Max Sappin, Mount Gambier, SA, for 202c/kg.

Fellow King Island buyer, Mr Aldridge, who bought 64 steers for fattening and snapped up a surprise purchase of 30 breeding heifers, said the cattle's reputation was the major drawcard.

"I didn't plan to buy them until two minutes before they were sold but I thought they were a realistic price for well-bred heifers with good bloodlines," he said.

Mr Aldridge purchased the top pen of 32 Angus heifers, weighing 308kg, Pathfinder-blood, for 167c/kg from Paul and Lowanne O'Brien, Sunnyside.

Despite the sale's female offering being larger than at earlier sales due to several hundred having been withdrawn from weaner sales due to decreased northern interest, the results met vendors' expectations at 142-167c/kg.

Principal selling agent Jody Darcy said while feedlot support buoyed the market, a 185c/kg budget was tough to break.

"It helped put a floor price in but they had a maximum (because) feedlot buyers have another 15,000 cattle to go through this week," Mr Darcy said.

"We did see a bit of a ceiling in the market today and once they went over that they were very nervous and didn't want to be there."