THERE was a mixed offering of 2200 cattle penned at the Pakenham store cattle sale last Thursday - well above the 1000 advertised.
However, the general run of well-bred cattle sold well, with steers $20-$30 dearer, and most heifers sold at firm to dearer rates.
The sale included two herd dispersals, one stud Limousin herd, and one commercial Blonde D'Aquataine herd, with two or three other high-quality cows and calves, heifers and bulls.
While the balance of the yarding did include a lot of excellent breeding, there was a large number of poor condition, and dairy and dairy-cross cattle penned.
Some excellent sales were noted among the large penning of steers.
A single two-year-old steer in fat condition sold for $1280, and few sales of yearling steers were sold from $850-$1085.
The Estate Dr PF Williams, Red Hill, sold 20 South Australian-bred Angus steers to $1085, averaging $1042.
OlaWest, Fernhill, sold 44 Angus steers, 2-4 teeth, to $1005, av $949.
The strength of the sale could be seen in competition from a large crowd, for weaned steers to 15 months.
P&S Cameron, Woori Yallock, sold 12 Poll Hereford steers for $925, and J Mantella, Shoreham, 13 Angus steers for $915.
D&G Casey, Sunbury, sold a range of 40 weaned and older Angus steers, TeMania-bloods, which sold from $698-$985, av $820.
Most of the better-bred pens comprised of steers weighing to 380 kilograms liveweight, and in fair to good condition.
Recent high prices for finished steers, and the onset of strong spring growth, created strong demand.
J Liberman, Red Hill, offered 19 Angus steers, which sold for $790.
Gunbar, Beveridge, sold 24 Angus steers (to 341 kilograms), to $720, av $688.
The best sales on a liveweight equivalent basis were steers up to 320kg.
Some sales reached up to 270 cents/kg, with many 225-250c/kg.
The best example was the 140 steers sold by Jarrawood, Yea, which were estimated to weigh from 220-300kg. These Angus, Hereford and Angus-Hereford steers sold from $500-$710, av $669, or 230-280c/kg.
There was a reasonable supply of young steers penned, which sold from $300-$475.
These were good sales for the size and weight of the steers.
"Something for everyone" could best describe the balance of the steer yarding with any size, shape and breeding filling the yards.
Prices for dairy breeds and their crosses were from $150-$450, with larger Friesian steers and bullocks between $350-$740.
By comparison, the offering of heifers was small, which created some strength of demand.
Blyth Bros, Ellinbank, sold five yearling Angus heifers in fat condition for $795, and 14 younger heifers for $525.
HJ Vegter, Cowes, Phillip Island, sold 11 Charolais-cross heifers for $680.
Away from these few small drafts, most heifers sold between $320-$575.
The highlight of the sale was the featured lines of female cattle.
Fulham Park Charolais, Longwarry North, sold stud cows and calves from $1350-$4000, joined heifers for $1000 and unjoined heifers for $775.
Lillico Limousin stud held a total herd dispersal, and their female cattle were of excellent quality and sold to strong competition.
A heifer, pregnancy-tested in-calf (PTIC) to calve mid-October, sold for $4000 with many other cows and calves and heifers selling between $2100-$3200.
Two lines of Blonde D'Aquitaine herds were offered with cows and calves selling from $1250-$2000, heifers $875-$1100, and several bulls of varying ages made from $715-$2225.
In the ordinary cow and calf section, the quality was mixed, which saw prices range from $550-$1000 for most sales.
R&C Pisa, Thorpdale, sold 26 Angus cows and calves from $860-$1200.