PRICES continued to come back strongly at the Bairnsdale combined agents' store cattle sale last Friday, where a lot of good quality weaner stock was offloaded.
Once again, like recent sales, Thursday’s fat cattle market was a harbinger of better prices to be expected on Friday.
From the large crowd, farmers were keen to pick up good quality stock and didn't mind paying for them.
Feedlot buyers were scarce among the successful bidders and some of the usual buyers had to compete hard for pens - and then lost.
Barry Wood, of Woody Group, sent in 68 weaner steers from Buchan South and was pleased with the price as it continues to exceed $2 a kilogram at Bairnsdale.
"The oldest were genuine 12-months to the day and average weight was 337kg," Mr Wood said. "It was a good market today. We got 215 cents/kg-plus, to a top-price of $726."
Restockers included Ian Lester and Denise O'Keefe, of King Island, Tasmania, on their twice-annual buying pilgrimage to southern Victoria.
Mr Lester was on a serious buying mission, beginning by paying $680 a head for a pen of 13 European-Union-accredited 10-12-month-old Hereford steers in pen five, bred by Ken and Kim Skews of Ensay.
He also bought a pen of 20 Hereford weaner steers sent in by GD Simpson of Meerlieu, paying to $650; 15 Charolais steers from Glensheil Pastoral of Butchers Ridge, paying $722; and 10 Charolais steers from O Herman, paying $635.
"I bought 63 Hereford and Charolais steers and another 11 for my uncle," Mr Lester said.
"They presented well and I'm pleased with what I bought and how much I paid for them."
Michael Turra, of Metung and Buchan, bought 55 heifers and nine cow and calf units, along with three cows and a bull.
Soss Martin and Jan Stevens of Bengworden were also keen to pick up some heifers, beginning with a pen of 22 Angus weaner heifers from LH&T Reed, paying $500/hd.
While they have been farming for some years, Mr Martin said they recently bought a larger property and were stocking it with a breeding herd.
Tina Moon of Gelantipy was another local farmer looking to increase her breeder numbers, paying $515/hd for a pen of nine Speckle heifers from Jason Davies of Wuk Wuk to add to her breeding herd.
"I haven't bought his stock before and it will bring a new bloodline into my herd," Ms Moon said. "I've got a couple of young bulls I bred and I'll join one to these females."
The top-price of $925 for a pen of steers went to K&D Foat of Woodside, for seven black baldy steers.
K&D Foat was one of a many vendors that sent in a number of pens of cattle.
Loplexa sent in a line of cattle, selling Angus steers to $890.
Greg and Frances Andrews of Nicholson sent in 14 Hazeldean-blood Angus steers, 13-14-months-old, that sold to $874; while Ricky and Amanda Crisp of Omeo sold their Angus steers to $870.
Adam and Amanda Bartkowski, of Ensay, sent in a pen of 17 black baldy 10-12-month-old steers that returned $860.
JW Broome sold 13 Poll Herefords to $825 and remaining Hereford steers sold to $820.
GT Farmer of Ensay sold seven Hereford steers to $820 and David and Penny Luckock of Metung sold seven 10-month-old Hereford steers, to $820.
A Pota of Towamba, NSW, sent in a line of Angus steers and heifers - two steers sold to $820, the balance to $690.
CJ Pendergast & Co, Benambra, sold Hereford steers to $810, with the balance of the pen to $660.
Ken and Kim Skews of Ensay, returned a top of $790 for 10-12-month-old EU-accredited Hereford steers.
The same price, $790, was achieved for a pen of 11 Angus and black baldy steers sent in by RE Banks.
Price paid for steer calves was also good, with a pen of 17 Angus sent in by LH&T Reed selling for $578 each.
Among the few older dairy cattle, a Friesian bullock sent in by J Hart realised $900 and a pen of Friesian steers from Emma Hine sold to $825.
While there were strong prices paid for some heifers, largely the prices fell off by $100 although the quality held.
G&F Andrews sent in three grown Angus heifers, 16-18-months old, that sold for $785/hd.
K&D Foat of Woodside sold five Angus heifers to $735; the remaining eight head sold $500-$515; while Matani Holdings of Goon Nure, sold black baldy heifers - nine to $575, the balance of 16, av $440.
There was a lot of spirited bidding for cow and calf units.
A single black baldy cow with Angus calf, sent in by B Sellings, sold for the top-price of $1160.
TKJ King and JP Miles sold three Hereford cows and calves for $1100; bought by Michael Turra.
Among the cows and calves, Kevin Newman of Nicholson sold seven Angus cows and Charolais calves, for $1040 each.
A second pen of 10 units sold for $1000; and a third pen sold to $910, av $857.