A specially-arranged sale of store cattle conducted at Hamilton due to mounting concerns over the season met steady response.
Processor and feedlot buyers as well as the live export trade dominated the sale of the heavier well-presented lines while restocker orders placed from Gippsland, northeast Victoria, Swan Hill, Mt Gambier, SA and Glen Inness, NSW absorbed the majority of the lesser advanced lines, with minimal interest generated from within the greater southwest area.
The yarding of 2000 was larger than expected and contained mostly clean-up lines of spring 14-drop cattle than had missed earlier Hamilton sales and were being set for sale next autumn.
Heavier weights of grown steers made comparable rates to other recent southwest markets, to sell from $1285 to $1580 a head, as sales averaged 291c/kg lwt.
The market toppers were a yard of seven EU-accredited Angus, 514kg, sold account Wannawong to the Teys Charlton feedlot while G&M Simkin sold, at $1528, a pen of 544kg Murray Grey steers to Wodonga agent Corcoran Parker.
Lighter lines of 360 to 450kg feeder steers met steady inquiry as sales returned $1045-$1345/head values and averaged 298c/kg lwt.
Among the better sales in this weight group was a yard 13 EU-accredited Angus, 437kg sold by Dooerdowns, at 308c/kg lwt, to Teys Charlton while a pen of 17 Angus steers, 406kg, sold by the McIntyre family, at 321c/kg, again went onto Teys Charlton feedlot account.
A Teys Jindalee, NSW feeder order along with feeder and abattoir orders from Kyneton, Swan Hill, and Yarrawonga also supported this section of the market while Landmark International emerged almost as being unstoppable on both black and white-faced steers suited for live export.
Angus young steers, in particular, were hotly contested resulting in a sale high of 342c/kg lwt being paid for a yard of 280kg Angus weaners sold by Grassdale to Landmark International.
The live export order also paid 341c/kg lwt for a yard of 16 Toolonga EU-accredited Angus steers, 310kg, 317c/kg for a pen of 36 Maringa Angus, 371kg, and 337c/kg lwt for 33 The Hummocks Angus steers, 335kg.
The demand for heifers was steady but easier than most recent sales. Lot feeder again dominated in this area of the market with support buying assisted by Glen Inness, NSW as most black heifers realised 265-290c/kg lwt and red heifers, 250-260c.
The heifer market included one highlight sale made at 308c/kg lwt for a yard of 37 Angus, 297kg sold by VJ & SK Rowett to Hamilton agency Kerr Livestock.
Steer Quotes:
450-544kg, $1285-$1526, av 291c
360-450kg, $1045-$1345, av 298c
280-360kg, $900-$1128, av 323c
Heifer Quotes
450-514kg, $1140- $1305, av 255c
360-450kg, $900-$1190, av 270c
280-360kg, $778-$914, av 275c
(Selling was conducted by curfew liveweight)