THE Pakenham fortnightly sale on Thursday consisted mainly of well-bred lines of cattle.
This type of offering can be a rarity at times, with dairy-cross cattle generally a factor in a varied yarding.
Only small numbers of older yearling steers were penned in the 1400-head sale, and although the auction commenced at a slower pace, competition improved as the breeders' lines of steers were sold.
Early sales were equal to the previous sale, but other sales were $20-$60 a head dearer.
Competition between feedlots and producers was fierce in places.
However, feedlot buyers won out on many occasions.
Yearling steers, mostly 16-18 months sold from $960-$1195,or the equivalent of 230-260 cents a kilogram.
I Hicks, Shoreham Park, Shoreham, sold 24 Angus steers for the sale's top price of $1195.
Natta Pty Ltd, Clyde North, sold 22 Angus steers from $1020-$1130.
C&D Lowe, Yarra Glen, offered 21 Angus steers, which sold for $1100.
Many of the steers sold were younger and many were in store to forward store condition.
Some of the Angus steers were purchased for a southern Queensland order, and most of the older Angus steers were off to South Australia for grain feeding.
Steers aged 10-14 months sold mostly between $780 and $945, or 250-275c/kg.
M Jeffrey, Arthurs Creek, sold 28 steers from $850-$945, and Netherwood Pastoral Co, Corinella, 19 Angus steers for $820.
Two or three larger drafts of young steers set the best example of price ranging between $560-$780.
Kalinka Charolais Stud, Yarra Junction, sold 26 steers from $745-$864, or 255-262c/kg.
Woorabinda, Caramut, sent 86 Charolais-Angus steers to Pakenham, which sold from $615-$780, to average $711, or close to 270c/kg.
J&A Black, Traralgon South, sold 41 small Angus steers from $600-$772.
Last but not least were 73 young Angus steers of Yerin Past Co, which sold from $560-$720.
Competition for most of the heifers was very strong, which created dearer trends.
P Kerr, Hoddles Creek, sold 20 yearling Angus heifers, 16-18mth, which sold to $880, av $843.
Hillard & Bowen, Strzelecki, sold 24 Angus heifers from $810-$825 with both pens purchased for grain feeding.
Many heifers sold from $485-$750, and these sales were estimated to range from 220-250c/kg.
Tallandbar Past Co, Yanakie, sold 40 Charolais cross heifers, from $530-$750, av $673.
In fact several drafts of Charolais and Charolais-cross heifers were penned, and most of these were purchased for grain feeding.
Kalinka Charolais sold 19 heifers from $605-$662, Cistercian Abbey, Yarra Glen, 10 Charolais cross heifers for $585, and Woorabinda, Caramut, 65 Charolais heifers from $546-$615. The 20 Angus heifers offered by J&A Black sold from $485-$590.
Some excellent quality cows and calves were sold, one drafts being from AEEK Partnership, Corinella.
Their eight stud Charolais cows and calves sold from $1850-$2160, after stiff competition between two buyers.
SR&SA Brown, Tuerong, sold 8 Simmental-Hereford cows and calves between $1360-$1750.
One draft of 16 Angus cows with young Charolais CAF, offered by C Pethybridge, Tarradale, sold for $1130.
Finishing this sale of quality cattle was 17 Angus heifers, 2.5 years, Buchan Station bred, PTIC to Holmwood Angus bulls for calving from May 1 for 9 weeks. These sold from $1260-$1340.