Small, but by no means insignificant would best describe the yarding of 781 head offered by Kyneton agents at the monthly store cattle sale. The crowd was small, in line with the yarding, but competition was very strong despite a few small exceptions.
The sale opened with four pens of yearling steers 0-2 teeth, which sold to soft demand with few local producers wanting to carry steers of this weight while the poor winter grass offers no nourishment. Account Boonah sold 10 Charolais steers, 560 kilograms liveweight, for $1500, and 10 Shorthorn steers, 478kg for $1070. Two other small lots sold for $1050.
However, it was a different story when the latest drop of weaned steers were sold. Most of these were in plain store condition, but feedlot buyers, backgrounders and producers competed for a very strong result. D Schooling sold nine Angus steers in good condition, 362kg, for $1140.
Most of the steers were estimated to weigh from 200-280kg, although some were weighed and displayed up to 341kgs lwt. Prices for these ranged mostly between $770 and $950.
Bio CSL, Woodend, sold 75 young Angus steers from $570-$780, and these steers were estimated to be from 360-385c/kg lwt. One pen of the steers had been weighed, but no weight was displayed.
Heifers sold to mixed demand, but generally prices were excellent for the quality. Heavier heifers, 324-397kg lwt, sold from $900-$980, but once again young and very light heifers sold very well. Most of these younger heifers sold from $550-$750 with 43 Angus heifers, offered by Bio CSL, sold from $610-$630, which were being estimated at 310-338c/kg lwt.
Interestingly, the offering of joined females and cows and calves sold to restricted competition. Several of the joined females and some of the cows and calves were purchased for slaughter. However, with slaughter rates being very high, prices were quite good.
Mr B Milton, Sutton Grange, sold 26 Angus cows, depastured to Red Angus bulls for their fourth and fifth calf, making from $1120-$1520. Springrove sold 18 Angus-Shorthorn heifers and cows, first to third calvers, PTIC to a Black Limousin bull, from $1100-$1400.
Account Nardoo sold the highest price cows and calves, selling 12 Angus-Hereford cows with 13 calves at-foot, 2-3 months, and re-depastured to Angus bulls, for $1500. Most cows and calves sold between $1000-$1310.
