FEATURE breeder's lines of steers and heifers aided a strong sale at Pakenham yesterday.
Following a day of excellent prime cattle prices at the Victorian Livestock Exchange's Leongatha complex, producers were bidding with loaded pockets.
Yearling steers sold well with bullock fattening competition, processors and feedlots to reach some high quality prices.
One buyer purchasing for a Riverina livestock agency made several purchases.
R Stivey, Tynong North, sold seven Angus steers for the top price of $1115, and many other yearling steers sold between $880 and $1070.
TELJ Pty Ltd, Loch, sold 18 Angus steers (445 kilograms live weight) for $1034, or 232c/kg lwt.
Some of the yearling steers were featured in the advertised line of Camoola Pastoral Company, Beveridge, 209 Angus steers.
The Camoola Past Co yearling Angus steers sold to $1050, and equalled 232-245c/kg lwt.
Their weaned Angus steers, Rennylea- and Dunoon-blood, 10-12mth, sold from $660-$880, which ranged from 231-266c/kg, and the whole line of 209 steers averaged $797, or 244c/kg lwt.
Feedlot competition was prevalent throughout the sale, but it was not the driving force like many other sales.
Strong returns for prime bullocks supported a lot of the competition at Pakenham.
J&J Berends, Carrum Downs, sold 28 Angus steers to $1040, and GC Gray, Yarragon, 26 Angus steers to $1070, av $979. Oamaru Stud, Red Hill South, sold 31 prime Angus steers from $880-$995, av $943.
Bergamin Past Co, Nanjomara, Willow Grove, sold their annual draft of 66 Angus steers, TeMania-bld, and 98 Hereford steers, Mawarra- and Yarram Park-bld, to strong competition. The 66 Angus steers sold from $650-$855, av $725, or 243c/kg, and the 98 Hereford steers $655-$830, av $750, or 253c/kg lwt.
T&C Hudson, Kilmore, sold 80 steers, a mixture of Angus and Charolais-Angus breeding. These 80 steers sold from $645, for the younger steers to $825, for an average of $673. Later in the sale, Lojosa Springs, Deniliquin, NSW, sold 129 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers of mixed ages. These steers sold from $610-$820, to average $727.
Competition for female cattle was equally strong with several fatteners and breeders creating solid demand.
Rural Resources, Healesville, sold 11 Charolais heifers, Paringa-bld, 2.5 years, PTIC to Beckingham Limousin bulls, to commence calving on March 16.
These heifers were in prime, heavy condition, and sold for $1440. Witchwood, Kerrie, sold 15 Angus heifers, Bongongo and Lawson's-bld, PTIC to Barwidgee bulls, to $1070.
Processor competition saw 9 Angus yearling heifers (519kg), offered by J Ashcroft, Mountain View, sell for $1080. Most heifers sold in the range of $550-$860, which equalled 210-245c/kg lwt.
A single Charolais cow and calf, from Quoin Hill Partnership, Ventnor, Phillip Island, topped this section of the sale making $1620. Halit Family Trust, Seville, sold nine Red Angus cows with 10 Charolais CAF, 4-6mth, and rejoined to a Black Charolais bull, for $1470.
SR&JA Brown, Tuerong, offered 12 Poll-Hereford cross cows with 2nd CAF, 4 mths, selling for $1510.
