Wangaratta agents sold 296 steers for an average of $1163, and 156 heifers, av $976. There was a few pens of weaned steers, but the main annual weaner sale will be held in January.
The agents offered a small and mixed quality yarding of 525 steers, heifers and cows with calves, last Friday. Peter Dargan, Rodwell’s Wangaratta, described the sale as being firm with local buyers supplying most of the competition.
Successful buyers came from further up in the north east, to the high country, and south to the Benalla region, plus local producers.
Buyers of feeder cattle generally stayed away from the steer portion, preferring to bid for heifers, given their lower input price. Bullock fatteners were reasonably cautious purchasing the small selection of yearling steers, paying to $1400, which equalled 330-340 cents per kilogram liveweight.
Bowman’s Forest sold 25 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers for $1400, and C Ellis, 5 Angus steers, also for the top price of $1400.
The first of a few of the district’s weaner steers sold to better competition with producers looking for more longevity to fatten them. S Thrum sold 16 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers (354kg) for $1320, or 372c, and J Knapper, 15 Shorthorn-Angus steers for $1295, or t399ckg lwt.
Younger, and lighter weight steers sold to $1255, this price achieved for Rae Pastoral Co, selling 13 Angus steers (300kg). This equalled 418c/kg lwt, which sat in a range of 390-420c/kg lwt for younger steers.
The offering of heifers was more scattered in their appearance. Feedlot competition improved here and two small sales of yearling heifers reached a top of $1325. Most heifers sold from $800-$1050.
Agents offered 60 cows and calves, and most of these outfits had young calves at foot, 4-12 weeks old. The average prices over all cows and calves was $2013, which denoted a very tight range in prices.
D Aumann sold 10 Angus cows and calves for the top price of $2210, and another 7 head for $2100. R Cadwell sold 6 Angus cows and calves for $2200, and Walpole Partners, 5 Red Angus-Hereford heifers and calves for $2200 too.
