TORRENTIAL rain across the north-east helped lift store prices yet again at Wodonga on Thursday, where light steers topped at 260 cents a kilogram.
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Boers Kindellan Schubert’s (BKS) Craig Schubert said most buyers had begun to recognise cattle numbers were tight.
“Our numbers at around 1850 head were pretty light for this time of year,” Mr Schubert said.
“I think people are realising numbers just aren’t there and you’ve got to go harder to secure supply.”
Paull and Scollard’s Tim Robinson said cows and calves sold considerably dearer, with a top of $1660.
“Young cows with good calves are very hard to find,” Mr Robinson said.
“I would say the cows and calves were $100-$150 dearer. Part of that was due to the quality of the females presented.”
Heavy steers were quoted from 190-200c/kg, weaner steers from 210-220c/kg and light steers from 230-260c/kg.
Sparrows Run sold the top pen of heavy steers at $900 a head for seven Angus, 500 kilograms. These made a liveweight equivalent of 180c/kg.
Volume vendor Wayne Durnan, Widgiewa Station, Morundah, NSW, cleared 360 Angus and black baldy steers and heifers, 8-9 months. A total of 199 steers topped at $775 or 260c/kg and averaged $752, while the heifer portion topped at $645 or 218c/kg for an average of $584.
“They made around what I thought they would. It’s great, the whole market’s been stronger today,” Mr Durnan said.
Ian Lobban, Kilmuir Angus, Browns Plains, was smiling after his 36 Angus steers, 346-384kg, 8-10 months, sold to $800 or 222c/kg. The same vendor topped the heifer market with 44 Angus heifers, 305-356kg, which made to $755 or 213c/kg.
*Full report in this week's Stock & Land
