There was 2300 head yarded last Thursday for the regular store cattle sale at Wodonga, and most were in good store condition reflecting better seasonal conditions in the north-east of Victoria and eastern Riverina than in other parts along the border.
But a lift in prices of between 30 and 50 cents a kilogram depending on condition and type caught agents and buyers by surprise but put a smile on vendors faces.
Paull and Scollard director Steve Paull, Wodonga, said the lift in values was welcome after the hammering store cattle have taken during the past month.
Commission buyer Duncan Brown said the market was “outstanding”, perhaps reflecting recent falls of rain but also with producers having sold finished cattle they needed to buy back in to maintain their operations.
“The sale was certainly up on previous sales, with the prices better than feedlots,” he said.
“There would also be the influence of recent rain and farmers who are trading cattle have sold bullocks and buying today with good margins.”
Steers sold from $930 to $1455, while lighter weights sold from $670 to $860.
Unjoined heifers sold from $900 to $1315, pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows sold to $1420, while cows with calves sold from $1670 to $2210.
John and Penny Macleod, “Wallangra Park”, Jingellic, sold 40 Hereford steers, 424 kilograms for $1365, while D. McFarland, Henty, received $1400 for his pen of ten Hereford steers weighing 453kg.
The Bethune family, Mitta Mitta, Victoria, sold nine black baldy steers weighing 395kg for $1225, while K.L and P. M Proctor, “Trenton North”, Bungowannah sold nine Charolais steers weighing 393kg for $1265.
In the heifer pens, L.C. Adams Nominees, “Burrakool”, Wakool sold 19 Angus weighing 370kg for $1170, with 20 Charolais heifers account J. M and C. J Singe, “Topside”, Tallangatta, Vic, weighing 321kg making $1000.
D.S. and C.G. Varker, Chiltern, Vic sold 10 Angus cows with calves for $2210.
Local restockers competed with buyers from Mansfield, Leongatha, the western Districts, Mt Gambier, Finley, and West Wyalong.
The sale was conducted by Wodonga agents BUR, Peter Ruaro Rodwells, Paull and Scollard and Schubert Boers.