Pakenham steers hit $1140

The yarding was generally of plain quality and condition. Due to the mixed nature of the offering, several small pen lots and individual lots were noted, which created a long wait for potential buyers and sellers.

This market operates differently to all other with each agent selling steers and heifers in the one run, and then the cows and calves. It took a long time to sell the cattle, and some potential buyers gave up and went home, but prices were still very good.

Especially noted were lines of well-bred steers and heifers, which drew the best competition, including feedlots and processors.

Steer and bullock fatteners paid up to the sale's top price of $1140 for yearling Angus steers with most selling between $850 and the top price.

Younger steers sold mostly between $550-$750, but due to the mixed quality and breeding, many sold from as low as $280-$540.

CV Lansell, Merricks North, topped the steer section selling yearling Angus steers for $1140.

These steers were purchased to fatten for a grass-assured program, but several pens of Angus yearlings were purchased by Thomas Foods International.

Selling a range of 57 yearling and younger Angus steers was HD Middleton, Mt McDonald Angus, Icy Creek.

These steers sold to very strong competition topping at $1000, others from $740-$910.

M&F Charles, Lardner, sold eight yearling Hereford steers, 12-14 months, for $860.

Most prices were quite good, although some agents said it was a little easier than the last pre-Christmas market.

However, the lack of sufficient well-bred cattle did play a part.

C&D Berveridge, Bayles, sold 20 Angus steers for $775.

Oaklands Past Co, Oaklands Junction, sold 33 Angus steers to $750, to average $687.

Crossbred steers also sold well. D&A Klindworth, Yarragon, sold 12 Simmental-Friesian steers for $745.

There were a number of very good sales of heifers with feedlots and fatteners competing for numbers.

HD Middleton, Icy Creek, sold 45 Angus heifers from $500-$905, and this was the range for most of the younger and yearling heifers sold. C&D Beveridge, Bayles, sold 21 Angus heifers for $690.

Demand for breeding female cattle came to the fore with PTIC heifers and cows selling to $1640.

D&K Taylor, Inverloch, sold a pen of 14 Angus heifers for $1525.

D Halliday, Macedon, sold heifers from $1080-$1400.

Cows and calves were plentiful, but their quality was mixed.

Some vendors were stressing that their cattle were late in the sale and with some buyers heading home early, prices would be affected. However, they needn't have worried. Cows and calves of notable quality sold between $1200-$1680.

Several sales of Limousin and Charolais cows and calves made from $1380 to the top price.

JC Nolan, Five Ways, sold a single pure French Limousin heifer and calf for $1680.