WODONGA clearly doesn’t give a toss how much sales in the rest of the state might be tailing off.
With only a small yarding of fewer than 1500 head, its Thursday sale still saw lighter weight steers around 220kg to 320kg selling for as much as 390-450c/kg.
While heavier cattle, up to 380kg, still managed to sell between 370c/kg and 390c/kg.
There is, Elders Albury-based livestock manager Matt Tinkler declared, excellent money if you actually have the cattle to sell.
And he is sure there is more to come with Wodonga traditionally selling well through until March and April – if conditions are right Matt said May could also be good.
“The weather might be what will dictate the market but we don’t see the meat job slowing down in the immediate future,” he said.
“There was strong demand for Angus weaners but it was the heifers everyone wanted to go after because everyone around here is still looking to fast track restocking.
“The three-in-one bargains, young cows PTIC and with calves at foot – and on Thursday they were mostly steer calves, saw prices go to a high of $2450.
“But apart from those units there were very few females in the catalogue.”
Matt said forecasting where the market will be this time next year was still a little tricky, particularly as the exporters are keen to see the market cool down a bit.
He said whole the bulk of Thursday’s cattle stayed locally the exporters are still turning up to every sale looking for the bargains they prefer.
“I guess at the moment the big unknown is exactly where the floor price is going to be, and that will have a big say in the coming months,” Matt added.
“But there is no doubt to date this has been the year of the breeder – there is good money in the job, there is a lot of confidence and people are looking to boost numbers,” he said.
“Provided the females are there I also think the autumn bull sales might well reflect the strength of the weaner market as well.”
