A BETTER quality yarding was presented to a reasonable size crowd at Pakenham yesterday (Thursday), and demand was strong for most classes of steers and heifers offered.
A few larger drafts of weaned steers and heifers sold to strong competition from local producers with some feedlot and processor competition added into the mix.
Yearling steers (0-2 teeth) sold to strong competition from bullock fatteners and feedlots with prices ranging from $770-$920, or 190-200 cents per kilogram liveweight.
Rowlands Pty Ltd, Coldstream, sold 11 Angus steers for the market top rice of $920, and NG&MJ Mortlock, Cloverlea, (property sold) sold 13 Angus cross steers for $845.
Competition increased as the cattle sold became younger and lighter in weight. This produced some very good sales, especially very light steers.
Bangalh Pastoral, Newhaven, sold Angus-cross and 47 Angus-Hereford steers 360-460kg lwt, from $715-$845 to average $786.
Gundabah Station, Phillip Island, 33 Angus steers from $400-$570, and being of very light weight they were estimated to be 215-242c/kg lwt.
There were many steers that sold from the equivalent of 210-235c/kg lwt, MWG Cleeland, Phillip Island, sold 19 Angus steers (330kg) by stud West Creek Angus bulls for $725.
Three feature lines of steers gave the best indication of the strength of competition for well-bred cattle.
Havelock Ag, Springfield, sold a pen 16 of yearling Charolais-cross steers for $855, and 43 younger Charolais steers to $725, av $646.
Camoola, Beveridge, sent in 98 Angus steers to Pakenham, which sold to very strong demand, selling to $795, v $706.
Westley, Phillip Island, sold 84 Angus steers to $845, av $688, and all of these steers sold for a liveweight av of 218c/kg.
Heifers generally sold well, and mostly at slightly dearer rates.
Having sold their property, NG&MJ Mortlock, Cloverlea, sold 22 Angus-cross yearling heifers, which made to $790, av $660. The first pen was purchased for slaughter, the second pen for grain feeding.
Most heifers sold between $320 and $530, with one example being A Ganglehoff, Bulla, who sold 14 Angus heifers to $490, av $450.
- Full story in the Stock & Land May 1 edition
