Although numbers were short demand proved exceptionally keen for store cattle at Colac on Friday.
Local buyers contested the small 500 head market, and with recent rains and the promise of more lifting hopes of an autumn break, prices climbed sharply by 30-50c/kg on the centre’s month earlier market.
Colac agent Phil Douglas said the recent in lift in slaughter prices had also sparked a keener interest on the back of the improved local season.
“There were not a lot of cattle penned but what was here was of good quality” he added.
Commencing the sale a pen of five Angus steers, 466kg, made $1570 a head. These were offered by G Cropley and sold to local opportunity feeder, Mick Buttigeig trading as Beechwood while Elders Camperdown paid $1480 for a yard of five Hereford steers, 430kg, offered by Tynimille.
Most yards of better grown steers, aged 12-15 months and weighing upwards of 360kg made $1360-$1470 a head, average 362c/kg while lighter steers made $1180-$1320 and averaged 395c/kg.
The Lockock family, Darlington sold 50 of their Ennerdale Hereford steers, 352kg to $1370, average $1215 a head.
Heifers were mostly sold in the 350-370c/kg price range. Better sale included D Coolahan – 13 Angus-Limousin heifers, 353kg sold at $1240 a head while Seaview sold Angus-Limousin heifers, 363kg at $1370.
![Colac restocker, Mick Buttigeig and daughter Rebecca were active buyers at Colac sourcing steers to opportunity feed on grain over the winter. Colac restocker, Mick Buttigeig and daughter Rebecca were active buyers at Colac sourcing steers to opportunity feed on grain over the winter.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yfcPEYitDL8bw63MeLy8YT/05ad717f-5d2f-44c0-ac73-b72624363a75.JPG/r0_0_4272_2630_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![Darlington stud breeders, Chris Luckock and daughter Kate Luckock sold a draft of their Ennerdale Hereford steer weaners at Colac, where tops of the draft, 352kg made $1310 a head. Darlington stud breeders, Chris Luckock and daughter Kate Luckock sold a draft of their Ennerdale Hereford steer weaners at Colac, where tops of the draft, 352kg made $1310 a head.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yfcPEYitDL8bw63MeLy8YT/113a3518-89c7-4868-ba8b-1d2d3f8312bf.JPG/r0_218_4272_2629_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![With school and university holidays in play, Phil Douglas, Charles Stewart-Dove had the accompany and assistance of his daughter Madelyn at the Colac sale. With school and university holidays in play, Phil Douglas, Charles Stewart-Dove had the accompany and assistance of his daughter Madelyn at the Colac sale.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yfcPEYitDL8bw63MeLy8YT/efd922c5-b8c3-44da-9622-c4340f3f431c.JPG/r0_218_4272_2629_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)