BUYERS attending the fortnightly Pakenham store cattle market, last Thursday, were greeted by another yarding offering few dairy breed steers and heifers.
The yarding totaled 1460 head, and included some good quality yearling steers that sold to both feedlots and bullock fatteners. Gippsland Valley Farms Pty Ltd, sold 10 Angus steers for $1880 to top the sale.
Solid competition from a processor feedlot for steers weighing around 450 kilograms liveweight, and over, saw most yearlings sell between $1550 and the top price.
B MacDougall sold 21 yearling steers from $1710-$1760, and “Gnarwin”, Nungurner, sold Charolais cross steers from $1570-$1800. G&MR Stephens, Denison, sold 20 Hereford steers between $1530&$1620.
More rain, and potentially more grass, keeps competition at a premium for younger steers. Prices for most of these younger steers ranged from $1035-$1490, or equaling 360-395c/kg lwt.
Oakfarm MurrayGraze, Buln Buln East, sold 16 Hereford steers from $1050-$1395, G Murray, Nar Nar Goon North, 24 Angus steers from $1100-$1490. E Higgins sold 26 steers from $1255-$1340, all selling at the higher end of liveweight prices.
While demand for lightweight steer calves was strong, there were fewer opportunities, and this aided some very good sales. Most of these steers sold from $850-$1100 with sales creeping over 420c/kg lwt. GJ&DG Kinross, Tonimbuk, sold 12 Angus steers, 6-7 months, from $860-$1100.
Competition for the 490 heifers penned was strong with solid feedlot support for yearling heifers, that would turn off during the winter months. FG&KM Rosenbaum, Coldstream sold 12 Angus heifers for $1300.
Younger heifers sold mostly between $750&$1000. The Avenues Family Trust, Flynn, sold 20 Angus heifers for $1045, G Danks, Vesper, 29 Angus heifers from $930-$1120, and E Higgins, 52 heifers between $800&$855.
Dalmore Park, Koo Wee Rup, sold the top cows and calves for $3060.