VENDORS at week two of the Wodonga weaner sales are all smiles today with the prices exceeding all expectations.
On the back of a decent start to the season last week following widespread rain, prices for non-black cattle have continued the upward trend.
Heavy yearling steers set the pace at 10.30am, with the first pen of the day, Hereford steers from the McKoy family at Holbrook, reaching 230c to 240c a kilogram, which is dearer than last week.
The first pen of weaners, Rangan blood Charolais/Angus steers owned by the Graeme Cook Family Trust, Wodonga, topped at $1105 for 21 10- to 11-month old Charolais steers, weighing 442kg, averaged 253 cents a kilogram liveweight.
Eleven of the Cook family’s steers made $965.
By comparison, last year they topped at $870.
Hereford yearling steers sold for 232 to 240c a kilogram liveweight up to $1150.
As the cattle got lighter, the northern competition pushed the market, the next lane made 250 to 260c/kg, the next lane made 260 to 280c/kg and Angus/Hereford cross steers made 294c/kg.
Very few steers down to 255kg made under $800 a head, so the average is going to be very high, probably $250 a head dearer than this time last year.
Even plainer steers are making $650 a head or 250c/kg liveweight.
Heifer weaners are yet to sell.
