Warrnambool
Unweighed Steers sold between $850-$1300
Cross bred and Friesian steers sold $750-$1150
Unweighed Heifers sold $800-$1200
Cows and calves sold from $1350 to a top of $1900.
PRICES for store cattle are still going up in the south-west, according to livestock agent Jack Kelly.
The Warrnambool Stock Agents’ Association president said vendors would be “extremely happy” after Friday’s sale with an “outstanding” yarding of 3650 that fetched good prices.
The November Store Cattle Sale achieved top prices of $1300 for unweighted steers, $1150 for cross bred and friesian steers, $1200 for unweighted heifers while cows and calves sold for a top of $1900.
Seventeen Angus steers fetched the highest price per kilo at 424 cents with steers weighing an average of 297 kilograms to vendor ASHLEA.
“It’s an outstanding season,” Mr Kelly said.
“We had a very good run of grown steers – more than we normally yard – I thought they were firm but good quality. The heaviest were nearly 600 kilograms which is really heavy for a store sale.”
Mr Kelly said buyer interest was higher than usual with the large car park almost filled to capacity.
Travellers from Gippsland, South Australia and Northern Victoria joined the usual crowd of south-west residents for what was a “really good yarding of excellent quality” cattle.
Mr Kelly said it was a good time to “buy back in” after several months of fattening.
“It was a wet winter but it does suit us here, there’s an abundance of grass,” he said.
“If the season continues to keep green, they’ll continue to sell.”
The annual draft of Moyne Falls yarding sold 500 steers for a top of $1350. “It’s an enormous draw card to have them here and a big attraction for everyone in November and May,” Mr Kelly said.
Port Fairy farmer Chris Brian sold nine herefords from his herd of 30 cows and calves at the sale.
Receiving $3.88 per kilogram, he said prices were good with stock numbers higher than average.
“It’s a really good time to sell,” he said. “It’s not a good time for me to buy.”
Livestock Agent Tim Healey and Bullaharre farmer Peter Walker said market prices were very good, following Mr Walker’s restocking purchase of 34 bullocks.
The sale included a line up of 20 Angus steers, 567kg, which sold for $1876, or 331 cents per kilogram, another line of 12 Angus steers, 468kg, sold for $1581, or 338c/kg and another line of 17 Angus steers, 297kg, sold for $1259, or 424c/kg.