Yarded: 1458
Steers: 360-450kg $1265-$1480, av 356c/kg; 280-360kg $1180-$1365, av 407c; 200-280kg $960-$1173, av 446c/kg
Heifers: 360-450kg $1130-$1435, av 346c/kg; 280-360kg $1058-$1328, av 376c; 200-280kg $960-$1067, av 461c.
WITH a big rain tipped for Victoria. south-west cattle restockers pushed the foot to the metal Thursday creating exceptional demand for store cattle at Hamilton.
In what was described as an "unreal" sale, feature lines of spring-drop steer weaners commanded prices between 400 and 465c/kg while heifers pulled rates from 360 to 460c/kg.
A limited and rather scrappy yarding of yearling-off and grown steers displayed a “wintry” appearance. These failed to attract the attention of feeder buyers who watched intently as younger cattle prices soared.
Kerr & Co auctioneer Craig Pertzel described the sale as “unreal”.
There was solid competition throughout, Mr Pertzel said. “Heifers made steer money and steers made some of the best prices we’ve seen for some time” he said.
“The only disappointment was the quality of the grown steer yarding that didn’t suit the lot feeders”. Consequently, they went home empty-handed but grown steers despite their appearance made good money on the day, he said.
Southern Grampians Livestock auctioneer, Dylan Praolini agreed and said feature lines of young steers gained outstanding interest.
This included a draft of 120 Angus steers offered by Ardonachie, Macarthur.
Sold cents per live weight, the first of the Ardonachie pens, 336kg, made 423c/kg – $1421/head – while a second yard of 74, 307kg, made 441c/kg realizing $1353.
Rod Schwarz, Woodhouse trading as Burow Bros sold Angus steers, 289kg, at 422c/kg or $1219/hd while 21 Havering Angus steers, 268kg, made 438c/kg or $1173/hd.
John Hayden, Glenthompson was also delighted with his September//October-drop of Angus steers sold to $1087/head. These weighed 246kg and were bid to 442c/kg while Mr Hayden’s second yard, 217kg, made 480c/kg or $1041 a head.
Restockers, seeking to return young females to the paddock for breeding purposes, were the dominant force behind the keenly contested heifer market.
Orders for across the greater southwest were involved however a dominant order from Penola, SA, with a focus on black heifers, led the charge.
A yard of a pregnancy-tested, empty, Angus heifers, 514kg, secured best money. These were sold for processing by Edgewood to Teys Naracoorte, SA abattoir at 282c/kg or $1449/head while a second pen of the same, 473kg was granted a second opportunity to breed by a Casterton interest when secured at 276c/kg or $1306/head.
Other heifers secured for breeding included 13 Corea Hereford heifers, 357kg sold at 328c/kg while Dennistoun sold Black baldy heifers, 409kg at 351c/kg.
A yard of 27 Tathra Angus heifers, 319kg made 387c/kg or $1234/head.