Better quality was a feature of the larger yarding of 1400 head offered at Pakenham, Thursday.
Having the warmest day since April drew a good size crowd, but many were only looking on.
Generally, prices were down $50-$150 per head, with crossbreds and heifers most affected.
However, with some vendors that sold four weeks ago, offering similar cattle at this sale, some sales could be quoted firm to dearer.
Ann Bullen, Quaterford Angus Stud, Mt Duneed, sold 20 Angus steers, the first pen of 12 head (397kgs) were equal in weight and quality to their second pen four weeks ago. Making $1320 saw them sell at $20 per head more.
Another producer who offered Angus steers four weeks ago, but took them home, sold them for $910, Thursday, at $50 more than their previous offer.
Prunetti Investments, Fish Creek, sold a line of 56 Angus & Charolais-Angus steers from $1080-$1250, which equaled 334-339c/kg lwt.
"Coomla”, Beveridge, sold 47 Angus steers from $1020-$1150, or 317-338c/kg. Both of these breeders steers sold at the better end of liveweight prices.
Included in the offering were a few pens of heavy yearling steers weighing 460-583kgs lwt. G&B Hunter, Woodstock, sold 9 Angus bullocks for $1565, the highest price of the day, and other heavy yearling from $1170-$1490, equaled 255-297c/kg lwt.
C Kelmar, Yarra Glen, sold 12 Angus steers (535kgs) for $1470, Olawest P/L, Kyneton sold 24 Angus steers, 460-508kgs, from $1160-$1490, and D&C Droppert, Sale, 32 Hereford steers, 461-481kgs, from $1160-$1350.
Patterson&Hutchison, Clyde North, sold 40 Angus & Charolais steers from $1050-$1225, or 293-300c/kg. These, and a few other better bred lines of steers sold to opportunity feeders.
With prices falling many of the steers, 220-320kgs failed to sell above $1000, and most were from $750-$950 per head.
With only a few of the best heifers purchased for grain feeding, competition was weaker, and heifer prices showed the larger price falls.
In liveweight price terms, the 67 Angus heifers of “Camoola”, Beveridge, sold at the peak, selling from $790-$895, they equaled 267-307c/kg lwt.
T Waterfall, Balnarring, sold yearling Angus heifers (498kgs) for $1270, and Charolais-Angus heifers (404kgs) for $1130.
Most heifers sold between $550&$900, and although some were fit for the knife, none went that way.
There was a spread of cows and calves sold, and most were older cows, some with very good Limousin calves at foot. T&J Watson sold 2 cows and calves for the top price of $2240.
For the quality of the outfits sold, prices were quite good, however, some went for slaughter.
J&C Langelaan sold 43 crossbred cows with good quality Limousin calves from $1250-$2060.
Brookes&Brinkley, Tooradin, sold 21 Angus-Friesian heifers, 2.5 years, PTIC to Limousin, from $1650-$1700.