Yarded: 3875 head
Steers: 450-500kg: $1200-$1432, av 273c/kg; 360-450kg: $1020-$1241, av 281c; 280-360c/kg: $810-$1071, av 290c/kg
Heifers: 360-450kg: $962- $1228, av 271c/kg; 280-360kg: $770-$1098, av 287c/kg
INDUSTRY support for the recently opened WVLX-Mortlake saleyards was another overwhelming success, Thursday, when a large following of feeder and restocker buyers bid consistent prices at the centre's inaugural store cattle market.
Competing for a near capacity penning of 3875, prices bid for best lines of black feeder steers were tightly bound to a 275-296c/kg range, while other breeds of grown steers made 250 to 278-cents.
Several large vendor breed lines of black feeder steers were included in the sale and for the first time broad feeder buyer interest included the support of the often saleyards-shy, JBS Australia organisation.
Buying for a feeding destination other than its company-owned feedlots JBS secured upwards of 150 Angus and Black Baldy feeders, 430-475kg, in opposition to rival feeders, Hopkins River, Princess Royal, Teys Charlton, Garrison and live exporter, Harmony Ag.
A handful of Western District, South Gippsland and northeast agent-held orders for prominent bullock finishers also buoyed competition, with noted better sales including Watgania Pastoroal, 32 Angus, 484kg, sold at 296c/kg, a second pen of 45 Watgania Angus, 435kg sold at 282c/kg and 28 Westdown Angus, 476kg, which as first-cab made 285c/kg.
Numerous lines of Angus, some Hereford and other breeds of weaners also won strong support making from 285c and a top of 307c/kg. Among the better presented were account GW & AC Hare, Moulamein, NSW, who sold Angus steers 473kg, at 289c/kg and a second pen, 429kg at 289c/kg.
Hill Haven, cleared 18 Angus, 422kg, at 289c/kg while 39 Bligh Pastoral Angus, 335kg were taken at 305c by Landmark International.
Among other leading sales 27 Coorelup Angus steers, 407kg made 305c/kg while Woorabinda sold yards of Angus, 386kg and 360kg at 288-cents and 291c/kg respectively.
Topping steer weaner sales, at 307c/kg ($1071), however were 24 Fleckvieh Simmental steers, 349kg, bred at Drysdale, near Geelong by Brenair Park while a second yard, 392kg made 304c/kg ($1191/head) for the same vendor.
Of the white-faced sales, Cliffany Park sold, at 285c/kg, 33 Hereford steers, 324kg while Walkenny Park sold 24 Hereford steers, 345kg at 282c/kg. Weaner heifers mainly traded from 265 to 287c with a top of 322c/kg ($1098) for 18 Banquet-blood Angus, 341kg.
A disappointing flat spot of the sale was the poor buyer interest for a large quality offering of joined young females.
Functioning as the first sale in a heavy week of western area joined female sales only one sale lot among this yard of 750 was sold north of $2000/head, and most sold between $1350 to $1940.
Two high-profiled and well-presented signature lines were presented in the offering.
The dominant supplier M&H Johns offered 430 Angus and Black baldy first and second-calf heifers all joined to begin calving from March 1.
Comprising Kanuma, Eagle Hawk, Weeran and Lawson bloodlines, the lead draft of all-black heifers made $1850-$1940, while the smaller framed lots made $1450- $1510.
The Black Baldy lines of the Johns consignment, which were in excellent calving order, made $1360-$1480, while best priced Black Baldy lot, sold by Corie Lynn, PTIC to Witherswood Angus bulls, made $1710.
The best-priced Angus heifers, Murdeduke blood, made $2020 for Bruano Partneship, Leslie Manor.