Local restockers purchased most of the cattle offered at Wangaratta’s grown and weaner sale last Friday.
Elders, Rodwells, Corcoran Parker and Landmark offered a little less than 1000 cattle – more than had been advertised.
But strong demand and a buoyant market kept prices strong despite the larger yarding.
Sale highlights included a pen of black yearling steers, average weight 373kg, that made $1350.
A pen of Angus steers, 10 months-old, 308kg, made $1250.
Account Warilya from Kilfeera consigned a draft of nine month-old Angus steers, Hazeldene and Lawson bloodlines, that had been weaned for six weeks.
The top 32 at 300kg made $1260.
In the heifers, a pen of 25 Angus, 401kg from G&M Thompson, sold for $1325 and a pen of their sisters, 26 at 372kg, sold to a Mansfield fattener for $1300.
APH Pastoral, Alexandra, sold a draft of 140 Angus, black baldy and Hereford heifers, 15 months.
The top pen of 33 at 378kg sold to a Holbrook buyer for $1275. A Mansfield buyer purchased the next two of their pens, including 30 at 385kg and 33 at 338kg, which sold for $1285 and $1170 respectively.
Furlan Bros, Docker, consigned a draft of 40 Angus, mixed sex, 10 months, Witherswood and Fernhill bloodlines, that topped at $110 for a pen of 18 steers at 306kg.
GV McDonald’s 16 at 312kg made $1120.
Justin Keane, Corcoran Parker, said it was a very strong sale underpinned by local demand. He said a few commission buyers attended the sale, but did not have a major impact on its outcome.
He said their competition drove prices to be equivalent to about 360c/kg for heavier, yearling types and the younger weaner cattle reached up to 420c/kg.
He said many of the lighter pens sold for prices equivalent to $4/kg or more.
“Whilst there were some nice pens of Angus cattle, there were also pens of variable quality that sold very well,” Mr Keane said.
