Last Friday was the first day of spring, and expectations were mixed prior to the start of Greenwood Livestock’s autumn sale.
Sale, and surrounding districts are extremely dry, similar to much of Victoria.
However, with an odd exception, there was no need to be concerned, as competition was solid for most of the market.
Only a couple of sales of yearling steers could be quoted as cheaper, and an odd sale of heifers later in the day, could have been better.
Away from this, most of the market was firm, and equal to other recent markets.
Competition included a small amount of processor demand, some livestock buying of smaller heifers, and numerous Gippsland buyers.
Despite the poor season, most of the cattle were in fair to good condition.
Many in the crowd commented on thie condition, which contributed to the sale’s outcome.
Opening the sale, Greenwood Livestock auctioneer Gordon Connors sold a pen of yearling Hereford steers, Mawarra blood, for $1250, or 265 cents per kilogram liveweight.
From there on, competition improved for both yearling and younger steers.
Varying greatly in weight, yearling steers sold between $1100 and $1270/head. The top price being paid for 18 Angus steers of RAJ Crooke.
Turning the corner onto younger steers saw strong competition and two pens of Angus steers, offered by Sam Brooker, Merri Glen, sell for $1255.
Most of the younger steers sold between $$950 and $1180.
BL&M Lee sold 36 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers from $990-$1180.
Demand for lighter weight steers was very solid, seeing most sell for the equivalent of 320-342c/kg lwt.
GJ&LA Dunsmuir sold 45 Angus steers from $880-$1060, and GA&J Dunsmuir, sold 21 Angus steers from $880-$1055.
Most of the steers were Angus, but a pen of seven Charolais steers, offered by J Berklmans sold for $1030, or 311c/kg.
The lightest steers sold very well, one example being 15 Angus steers, 260kg, which sold for $920, or 353c/kg lwt.
Heifers sold to mixed trends with the lightest heifers, mostly unweighed, returning the best results.
Top dollar price of the heifers were the Angus heifers of Sam Brooker, which sold for $970, after some spirited bidding.
However, most of the non-weaned heifers sold from $740-$780, while young heifers sold upward of $720 per head.
A small selection of crossbred steers sold between $970-$1320, the later being 560kg Angus-Friesian steers, and two pens of Friesians made $680-$840.
Cows and calves sold from $1045-$1420 for a lean selection.