Prices continue to climb at Kyneton

Prices paid varied from 320 to 400 cents a kilogram liveweight for steers and 280-340c/kg lwt for heifers while cows with calves at-foot (CAF) made to $1780 per outfit.

The yarding of 600 was mostly well bred and in strong store condition but overall quality reflected the harsh winter of the broader southern highlands.

Kyneton agent Greg Dwyer said the market was the dearest in his lifetime.

Affectionately known as "father time" Mr Dwyer said that he had made that same comment following the previous Kyneton sale, the one before that and the one prior to that also.

"When buyers start knocking pens at $4/kg you get a sense they are keen to buy but it also makes cattle very hard to value," he said.

Fellow Kyneton agent Kieran McGrath, McGrath Rodwells Livestock, agreed and said secondary cattle, especially, had made big money.

"It was a very pleasing result for all concerned," Mr McGrath said.

"Graziers competed strongly with the feedlots, and there were plenty trying."

"A decent rain in the next month or so would make things very interesting - and it would certainly give the market further reason to firm."

"But we have to get that rain. It is badly needed".

The sale's opening pen, weighed at 492kg, drew pretty of interest from restockers as well as feedlots.

Offered by G Thiele, Ashbourne, these made $1600 a head or 325c/kg lwt while Monegeetta Pastoral, Monageetta sold 12 Angus steers 435kg at $1480 a head.

The opening four yards of the market were secured by South Australian processor Thomas Foods International while Landmark Bendigo paid $1170 for a yard of 12 Angus-cross steers, 331kg, offered by Francis Haven and $1200 for a pen of 22 Angus, 295kg, presented by R Cudlipp.

Other restocker buyers from Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Molong, NSW, competed with local graziers for the lighter steer drafts that generally made $750-$960 a head while heifers realized $600-$1050 a head with isolated sales higher.

The best priced heifers were depastured but these were sourced for feeding at prices between $870 and $1180.

Sold by Tinnara the heaviest yard of Angus weighed 409kg while a pen of Poll Hereford 324kg made $870.

MJM Farms sold Angus heifers, 379kg, not station mated, at $1050 while L&P Mudford sold 12 Angus heifers, 293kg, also unjoined, at $970.

A pen of Glenardagh Angus heifers, 230kg, made $790 and was the highest cents per kilogram young females.

Best priced cow and calf outfits were also offered by Tinnara. Comprising eight Angus/Hereford cows, re-depastured, with three month-old Angus CAF, these were secured by Elders Ballarat on a bid of $1780 while a second pen of the same - lighter framed - went the same way at $1680.

Other pens of cows and calves made $1320 to $1510 and appeared sensible buying on the day.