Shepparton
Total yarding 860
Steers to $1100
Heifers to $1023
Cows and calves to $2025
DESPITE the less than favourable seasonal and market conditions, prices were steady at last Friday’s store cattle sale at Shepparton.
Robson Donaldson livestock agent Peter Stevenson said a few vendors pulled out of the sale in the leadup because of these factors, so 860-head were offered rather than the advertised 1150.
“At the time of the market, cattle markets and the season had been failing, which caused a few to pull out of the sale,” Mr Donaldson said.
“But those that stuck it out benefited because earlier in the week the markets improved slightly, and so it actually ended up being a good sale.”
He said the majority of cows and calves made $1850 per unit, but ranged from $1700-$2025.
The stand-out line of cows and calves was 6x6 Limousin/Friesian cross heifers with six week-old Limousin calves at foot, which reached a price of $2025/unit.
Beef steers ranged from $790-$1100/head in price, with the standout line from ‘Welsby Park’, Kialla.
They offered 63 15-16 month-old Hereford and Hereford/Simmental cross steers, 367 kilograms, which topped at $1100, and averaged $1027.
F1 heifers made from $680-$1023/head, with the standout being a line of eight 14-15 month-old Limousin/Friesian cross heifers, who reached that top price.
Younger 12 month-old Angus/Friesian cross heifers, who were not quite ready to join, made $840/head.
Friesian steers, ranging in age from 10-12 months-old, made between $550-$810/head.
The 10-12 month-old beef heifers made $700-$800/head.
Mr Stevenson said almost all of the steers and cows and calves went to local buyers.
“They went to buyers who want to finish them off and sell them as prime cattle, or to use as replacements,” he said.
He said South West Farmers, Portland, was a strong buyer with the F1 heifers.
He said the result would build confidence among local cattle producers in the short-term.
