EXCELLENT quality across all categories of stock pushed up prices by 10-15 cents a kilogram at the Warrnambool monthly store cattle sale on Friday.
Attention to breeding quality by vendors and an earlier-than- usual finish to the spring season were catalysts for the excellent presentation of the large yarding of 2989 head that attracted strong competition.
The offering comprised 2027 steers (both grown and weaner age), 962 unjoined heifers, 144 heifers joined for autumn calving and 46 cows and heifers with calves at foot.
Livestock Shipping Services and feedlotters dominated the buying activity, along with trade processor interest on the primer-conditioned cattle.
Agents from the South East of South Australia, the South Gippsland area and northern Victoria including Wangaratta and Wodonga were among those acquiring suitable lines for clients.
Angus and Angus-cross steers in the weight range of 420-530kg sold mostly at 183-188c/kg, with isolated sales to 199c/kg.
Hereford, Shorthorn, Euro and Euro-cross steers in the same weight category made mostly 170-182c/kg; occasional sales reached 190c/kg.
Younger yearling steers were in the 190-212c/kg range while the majority of weaner steers made 195-218c/kg.
The best yearling heifers sold mostly at 170-178c/kg while weaner age heifers sold at 180-192c/kg.
Heifers joined for autumn calving sold at $700-$800 a head.
The limited offering of cows and heifers with calves at foot sold at $800-$1000 a unit.
Some of the better prices obtained in the steer sale included those paid to Karingal, which sold eight Angus, 529kg, at 183c/kg or $968 and 10 Angus, 483kg, at 188c/kg or $908.
Rocklyn Partnership also fared well, selling 14 Angus steers, 499kg, at 186c/kg or $928 and a second pen of 15 Angus steers, 436kg, at 188c/kg or $820.
Draffen Properties sold 16 Angus steers, 425.6kg, at 188c/kg or $801; 16 Angus steers, 422.5kg, at 188c/kg or $794.00; 25 Angus steers, 371kg, at 199c/kg or $738.00; 24 Angus steers, 380kg, at 199c/kg or $756; 26 Angus steers, 347kg, at 216c/kg or $750; 54 Angus steers, 342kg, at $735; and 49 Angus steers, 312kg, at 213c/kg or $665.
In the open auction weaner steer sale, Moyne Falls cleared 49 Angus at $620, 70 Angus at $580, 56 Angus at $560 and 50 Angus at $535.
Other open auction weaners steers sold generally at $530-$665.
In the heifer section, Parkview sold 30 Angus, 20-22 months, 480kg, at 171c/kg at $821, while Stonehaven sold five Angus steers, 494kg, at 174c/kg or $860.
