Females set pace at Yea

Competition was strong for a yarding that displayed plenty of good breeding, but lacked finish due to the poor autumn in the drawing area.

Feedlot competition set the pace, with Thomas Foods International (TFI) and Garrison feedlot the two main contenders.

The first lane of steers did have some weight, most being Angus and Angus-Hereford steers estimated to weigh between 340 and 450 kilograms liveweight.

The first pen of the day was seven Charolais-cross yearling steers, which included one larger two year-olds that reached $1200, and the balance for $1090.

However, the strength of the market was witnessed over the ensuing pens as steers made from $900 to the sale's top price of $1260, which was seen over two pens.

G&F Wright, Lancefield, and The Breen, Romsey, saw their steers purchased by TFI.

PD Wetherall, Cornhill, Merrijig, sold 23 Angus steers to $1160, average $1047.

J Martin, Nulla Vale, and Garwen Park, Alexandra, sold pens of Angus steers for $1140 and $1190, respectively.

C&G Lovick, Merrijig, sold 31 Angus-Hereford steers from $830-$1050.

The highlight of the sale was the interaction between feedlot buyers and producers, however, feedlots came up trumps several times.

To give this some significance, was the offering of 57 Angus steers from Campsie Glen, Glenburn.

These steers were hotly-contested selling from $720-$990, for an estimated 270-295 cents a kilogram liveweight, and purchased by feedlots and producers.

Some of this interaction resulted in exceptional sales.

DM&BJ Thompson, Barwite, sold 80 Angus steers, 7-8 month-old, Welcome Swallow-blood, from $580-$830, av $680. The top pen here was estimated to weigh only 265-270kg, which equated to more than 300c/kg.

While there were few pens selling at the very top liveweight estimations, this consignment covered a fair range of weight and prices seen throughout the sale.

A semi-herd dispersal set the pace of the sale of cows and calves.

G&B Young, Donnybrook, sold 56 Angus cows with young calves at foot by Innisfail Angus bulls, which sold in a range from $1360 for older cows up to $1560 for second and third calvers.

However, the top price hit $1640, for 12 Angus-Shorthorn cows with six month-old calves, account VD Richards, Strath Creek.

Six feedlot buyers competed in the heifer portion of the sale, which also triggered strong results.

Many of the people at the sale commented that prices were well above previous sales, and up to $60-$80 higher in places.

J Wilmot topped the heifer sale, clearing yearling heifers to $920. Many sales were between $650 and $880.

Highfield Park sold 19 Charolais heifers, Ashwood Park-blood, at $765, which went for grain feeding, as did many others.

Weight estimates put these heifers at 265c/kg, and most heifers achieved prices within the range of 235-270c/kg.

Younger and lighter weight heifers sold mostly from $500-$670.