Prices at physical sales continue to rise, and this was reflected in the competition for steers and heifers at the Wodonga store cattle market, Thursday.
This sale was potentially the best of all sales with a larger percentage of the steers equalling liveweight prices ranging from 360-435 cents per kilogram liveweight. Many more pens of steers, from very light (under 200kgs), to 290kgs, sold for more than 400c/kg lwt.
The Paull & Scollard, Peter Ruaro Livestock, Schubert Boers, and BUR Livestock sale, opened with several pens of cows and calves selling to strong demand. NJ&WG Lazarou, Wangaratta, sold 12 Angus cows with their 2nd calf at foot, for $2040, while the top price of $2050 was achieved by Robert Leaver Grazing for 5 Angus cows and calves.
While these sold to strong demand, producers were less keen for joined females due to calve when winter conditions could be at their peak. The Estate of K Lovick, Merrijig, sold 52 Hereford heifers and cows, PTIC to Poll Hereford bulls, from $1340-$1540. S&D Gray, Mansfield, offered 23 Angus heifers, PTIC to Anvil bulls, that sold from $1480-$1560.
Moving onto the steer sale saw a great intensity develop for all steers with feedlot and producer competition extremely strong. Cattle were purchased for Coonamble and Bathurst clients, while most others went to more local and Riverina clients.
Angus steers were highly sought after with backgrounders very strong for lightweight steers for future feedlotting. A&S Myer, Talgarno, sold 18 Angus steers (391kg) for $1380. Steers weighing over 300 kgs lwt sold upward from $1030, which equated mostly from 335-372c/kg.
Most of the steers offered weighed from 200-300kgs, and this is where the best competition occurred. Highlighting this was the sale of two larger drafts of steers. Mulgoa Pastoral company, Holbrook, sold 170 EU accredited Angus steers, 193-240kgs, from $655-$970, or 380-408c with only one pen below 400c/kg.
HL Masters, Corryong, offered 89 Angus steers, 212-290kgs, that all sold over 400c/kg lwt. Prices ranged from $855-$1180, or 403-438c/kg lwt. Other breeds also sold very well, but they made up only a small percentage of the yarding. Glencoe Past Co, Holbrook, sold a mixture of Angus, and mostly Hicks Composite steers. Their 95 head weighed from 220-265kgs, and sold from $825-$1020.
There was more feedlot competition for heifers, as most sold between 300 & 345c/kg lwt. Some good quality heifers were penned, selling from $995-$1265. RF&DM Ross sold 53 Charolais cross & Hereford heifers between $825 & $1265.
Lighter weight heifers sold between $630 & $925. N&B Mitchell Partnership, Walwa, sold 67 Angus & Angus-Hereford heifers from $655-$900.