PRICES at Wyndham Livestock annual feature spring store cattle sale at Bairnsdale were equal to, or in places better than any of the high prices passed in recent weeks.
At Wyndham, Alpine Maintenance, Swifts Creek, sold 127 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, EU accredited, from $930 to the market's top price of $1590, to average $1247. This equated to 347-381 cents a kilogram liveweight, av 358.5c/kg.
The interesting thing about this 2114-yarding sale was the lift in competition from Gippsland producers with grass already showing spring growth, despite some very cold weather. In fact this was one of only two sales where feedlot buyers were stymied by this competition.
Thomas Foods International, Hopkins River and Garrison feedlot all made purchases, but a much smaller percentage than normal given there were plenty of steers and heifers that suited.
Hurley Family Partnership, Dargo, was the largest vendor selling 148 Angus steers to $1235, av $1084. The interesting thing here is they sold to the equivalent of 354-401c/kg, av 374.6c/kg. Are we getting close to talking telephone numbers, or will this be the benchmark.
It is fair to note that 59 pens of steers sold for or above $1000.
Buchan Station, Buchan, cattle usually attract a lot of attention, and Tuesday was no different. They sold 74 Angus steers, 252-317kg, from $970-$1180, or 372-385c/kg, av 380.4c/kg lwt.
As you can see the numbers keep rising. In defence of the buyers, I must say this was the best line up of quality bred cattle of consistent size and evenness in large pen lots. Buyers are usually looking to buy even lines, and this market gave them plenty of opportunity. It is also fair to note that hardly a steer sold below $880.
Click on image for slide show of photos taken around the spring feature cattle sales.
Heifer sales were a bit of a surprise package, and although prices were no different to other comparable sales, some sales were very good considering the type sold. P&K Geeham, Ensay, sold 30 Hereford heifers from $1220-$1220, 319-348c/kg, and the second pen was the higher price.
PS,JM&LJ Sykes, Karoonda Herefords, Gelantipy, sold 26 heifers from $1150-$1200, 318-328c/kg. Hurley Family Partnership sold 90 Angus heifers from $710-$920, 300-323c/kg. Feedlot competition was a little stronger for the heifers that suited.
Just to enforce how competition has improved the past two weeks, was the sale of the herd dispersal of J Craddock & N Fanning, Wulgulmerang. Their 60 mostly Angus cows with Charolais calves at-foot, sold to $2250, av $1929.
The fact that many heifers continue to be purchased for the food chain, rather than for breeding, remains a concern for any re-building of the herd.
