OUTSTANDING feeder demand drove steer and heifer prices to extremes at Ballarat’s monthly store cattle market on Friday.
Offering a larger than expected penning of 3060 head – up 1000 on the advertised number – the much keener feeder inquiry lifted heavy grown steer and heifer prices by as much as 30-35c/kg lwt while yearling-off and weaner steers saw values improved by 15-20c/kg.
The marked in improvement in Ballarat store cattle values came on the back of reasonably flat March sale along with breaking news that forecasted rains for the northern border districts were being received.
On the day heavy steers weighing 450-550kg made $1130 to $1270 a head and averaged 244c/kg, while steers, 360-450kg, realised $850-$1100 and averaged 245c/kg.
Pen lots of lighter steers, 280-360kg, made $730-$900 a head and averaged 248c/kg, while light weaner steers made $600-$770 for some mid-weighted pens to calculate back at 280-290c/kg.
While the inquiry for steers was very solid the demand for heifers intensified with bids lifted into the 230-245c/kg price bracket.
This resulted in most yearling-aged heifers – 360kg plus -returning values of $900 and up to $1050, with a single pen purchased for breeding at $1100.