Predominantly an autumn 2016-drop steer and heifers sale, the Yea agents offered 2079 head of good to very good quality cattle.
Buyers were rewarded with consistency of quality and breeding, and vendors were rewarded with a firm to dearer sale.
Not all of the regular feedlot buyers were present, but strength of demand from local and district producers made this a very good sale.
Only a handful of South Gippsland buyers attended, but trucks heading back that way were limited.
Strong competition was seen throughout the steer sale, from Landmark Casterton, potentially purchasing for a live shipping order.
Complementing this was another strong order for the heavy weighted steers from Harmony Farms for future feeder steers.
Garrison feedlot did purchase a couple of pens of heifers, but was much quieter than normal. In general, Feedlot buyers are looking for yearlings, or at least heavier steers and heifers, but they also prefer them weaned.
All of this, plus a very good season locally, and in the surrounding districts, created the very good outcome.
No weights were displayed this sale, with the software just installed, which left some buyers not happy. However, weighing will occur from now on.
Because of the quality and weight of these 7-12 month old steers, prices for many pens were between $1200&$1330.
Inverugie Past Co, Yea, sold 88 Angus steers from $1090-$1330, to average $1258. GW&ME Oliver sold 66 Angus steers from $1130-$1300.
R,M&R Cumming, Gobur, sold 66 Angus steers from $1090-$1270, and the list goes on and on.
R&M Anstee, Mansfield, sold 36 Angus cross steers from $1110-$1240, and Melbourne Polytechnic, 31 Charolais&Angus steers from $1120-$1230.
Because the season has been very good, there are few steers and heifers of lighter weight being offered for sale.
This anomaly did aid competition for the few younger steers, but the big advantage seen for these calves in the past did not occur.
Having said this, most steers sold over $1000.
While Angus cattle did dominate the sale, two quality consignments of Hereford steers sold very well.
Michael & Nerida Hanlon, Howes Creek Hills, Mansfield, offered 98 Poll Hereford steers, from $1150-$1340 with three pens selling from $1300-$1340. This was an excellent result.
Following these were 134 Hereford & Shorthorn-Hereford steers of J&TM McCormack, Alencon, Molesworth.
These steers sold between $1030&$1160 for the strawberry roan steers, and $1020-$1130 for the Herefords.
Two sales to note in the heifer sale were 6 yearling Charolais heifers of Maco Enterprises that sold for $1300, and 22 Shorthorn-Hereford heifers, sold by J&TM McCormack.
These heifers sold to very strong demand with the end price being $1225, which was over $200 from the opening bid.
There were a few sales over $1000, JM Curtis, Waldara, Kilmore, selling 10 Angus heifers, Pert Angus blood, February-March drop, for $1065.
SR Shaw, Mansfield, and PD&P Ryan, Pyalong, both sold Angus heifers for $1030.
For larger drafts of heifers, Campaspe Park, Kilmore, sold 57 Angus, Hereford, and their crosses, from $865-$940.
Ancona Station, Ancona, sold 39 Angus heifers from $800-$930, and Minto Pastoral, Mansfield, 54 Angus heifers from $840-$870.
Howes Creek Hills sold 44 Poll Hereford heifers from $870-$900, , and R&K Elliott, Thornton, 45 Charolais cross heifers from $850-$920.
Once again, here in the heifer sale, there were very few heifers of younger age, or lighter weight penned.