Casterton agents experienced a tough day at the office on Thursday when a rather high-powered buying field maintained a very low profile.
Competition in particular for a reasonably well-grown out yarding of grown steers was especially flat and lacklustre with prices checked to a market top of $1475 a head for 565kg black steers while some of the better sales weighed at 440kg made to $1320/head.
Across the grown steer yarding bid of $1150 to $1350 a head which equated to rates averaging 277c/kg sold most while weaner lines saw a top of $1270 a head a head paid for Angus steers weighed at 369kg.
Most of the heavier pens of weaner calves upwards of 325kg made from $1140 to $1230 a head with most lots of unweaned calves drawing limited attention.
Buyers from the major feedlots, the live export trade and processors attended the sale as well restocker buyers from Gippsland, northeast Victoria and southeast SA.
The interest in heifer sales also display limited spark although lines selected as future breeders tickled calculation out close the $3/kg mark.
However these sales aside most of the heifer market was traded at 260-285c/kg with some of the lighter pens receiving bids in the $750-$850 a head price bracket.
