Warrnambool
Yarding: 1100
Steers to $3.36/kg
Heifers to $3.05/kg
DRY conditions reduced weights in some cattle but demand was still strong at the last week’s store cattle sale at Warrnambool.
Steers topped at $3.36 a kilogram and averaged between $3.10-$3.15/kg while heifers topped about $3.14/kg and av $2.90-$3.05/kg.
About 1100 head were yarded for the store sale that was brought forward to Wednesday from the usual last Friday of the month because of the Good Friday public holiday.
A small yarding of cows and calves was also offered with up to $1600 being paid for Angus cows and calves.
Warrnambool Stock Agents Association secretary Anthony Mahony said it was an exceptionally strong sale. Mr Mahony said the quality was not as good as previous store sales but south-west farmers were still doing a good job in keep their cattle’s weights up.
Feedlottters such as Thomas Foods International and feedlot buyer Peter Toohey battled against locals and others from SA including those from Mount Gambier and Naracoorte.
Mr Mahony said recent and forecast rain was encouraging more locals to bid.
Jack Kelly, J&J Kelly Stock Agency, said there were some good grown steers offered but younger lighter steers were showing the effect of the dry season. He said lighter steers had still sold well and the heifers had fetched very good prices.
Live export consultant Bruce Redpath said the yarding was of average quality and he believed the heifers sold better than the steers.
Barry Davis, Lyons, paid 336c/kg and 332c/kg for two lots that totalled 28 Angus steers. He said the prices were about 20c/kg less than the high prices that recently deterred him from buying at Mount Gambier. He got top prices when he sold most of his cattle in August and was buying more because he had plenty of supplementary feed. He was semi-retired and only ran cattle on 81 hectares.
John Murphy, Hawkesdale, got the best heifer prices he has received since the market lifted significantly last year. He sold 28 18-month-old Angus heifers averaging 460kgs for 302c/kg, averaging $1389 each.
Indicator prices included:
- Steers – Avon Park, 16 Angus, 333kgs. $3.36/kg, &1119; IR & MA McSween, 11 Angus, 457kgs, $3.20/kg, $1462; Spring Flat Trust, 8 Angus, 517kgs, $3.06/kg, $1582; GR & BR Annett, 7 Red Angus, 335kgs, $3.13/kg, $1048.
- Heifers – Spring Flat Trust, 6 Angus, 525kgs, $2.96/kg, $1554; Ryan Pastoral, 23 Angus, 396kg, $3.06/kg $1211; Thornleah, 16 Angus, 266kgs, $3.14/kg, $835; Wullibah, 14 Angus, 474kgs, $3.02.kg, $1431.
