Yarding: 2060 steers
Colac’s annual Special Weaner steer sale saw prices passing $1300, with sellers saying while prices were back a little on last year, they were still very happy with the result.
Agents said 2060 steers, drawn from the region, were yarded.
Murray and Anne Howard, Beeac, were again among the top sellers, with a pen of 15 Hazeldean and Pathfinder blood, February and March drop Angus steers selling for $1360.
The heavier steers, averaging 399kilgrams, sold for 340c/kg.
“There was $1325 early, and later on I got $1360 for a pen,” Mr Howard said.
“It’s softened a little, compared to last year, which was an exceptional sale.
“The prime market is trending quite a bit cheaper, in recent times, and people are wary of what they are spending, last year everything was on fire and they weren’t quite as cautious.”
He said the cattle went to a local buyer, through HF Richardson.
His line of 17 slightly heavier Hazeldean and Pathfinder blood, February-March drop, 408kg steers, fetched $1325.
Charles Stewart Dove’s Phil Douglas said all cattle were drawn from the local area.
He said Teys and Landmark International were active, but grass finishers were also prominent.
“The buyers were mainly local, with basically no feedlot activity,” Mr Douglas said.
“There was very little Gippsland support, one major buyer, who is here every year, wasn’t here this year.
“There are still a few more cattle around, so until he sells them, he is not going to hop back into the job.”
“I am relatively happy. We all knew what was going to happen, but I would say it was a solid sale, right from the start to the end.
“Most people were ready for it, and we accept it was a very, very good year, last year.
“Every client I have spoken to, have been happy.”
Graeme and Sandra Splatt, Weering, sold a pen of nine to ten month old, 12 Black Baldys, Murdeduke blood, for $1200, or 331c/kg.
Mark and Leah Jacobs, South Dreeite, had a draft of 140, including a pen of 429kg Roseleigh and Glatz blood, March-April drop steers.
They fetched $1300, selling to Teys Brothers.
“It’s probably the best year I can remember, it started early, in April, with seven and a half millimetres of rain, and it’s been excellent,” Mr Jacobs said.
“It got dry in October, but we got seven millimetres again in November and finished it off, with plenty of grass, so, very good.”
The sale kicked off with a pen of 14 a/c Kingoonya, 10-11 month old Bushy Park blood steers, weighing 407kg, which sold to Creek Number One, for $1220, or 299c/kg.
Other prices to make more than $1200 included a/c J&D Osborne, 13 Weeran blood, 417kg steers, February-March drop, which made $1260, or 302c/kg.
Wardor Run sold 23 402kg February-March drop Angus steers, Rossander blood, for $1230, or 305c/kg. Another draft of 10 heavier steers, a/c JL Brown, Murdeduke blood, weighing 417kg, sold for $1290.
Another 22 Larrigan blood steers, February-March drop, weighing 391kg, made $1230, and were bought by Matt Nelson.
A pen of seven Rodlo, ten-11 month old Rossander blood steers, weighing 425kg, fetched $1300.
Mid-weight Angus steers included a pen of 20, a/c J&D Osborne, February-March drop, weighing 357kg, which sold for $1200.
Among the Charolais were a pen of 16 a/c GI and CA Bath, Fort William blood, weighing 376kg, which sold for $1145, or 304c/kg.
A pen of six Charolais-Angus cross, February-March drop, weighing 398kg, a/c AT and IE Richardson, sold for $1230, or 309c/kg.
A pen of 24 Ardno and Glen Goulburn blood Poll Herefords, a/c Moonmoote, Birregurra, March-April drop and weighing 334kg, sold for $1110, or 332c/kg.
Among the calves, a/c G&L Inglis sold a pen of nine March-April drop Charolais Angus steers, Mt William blood, for $950.
