Many of the cattle of the 912 head yarded at Bairnsdale last Friday looked as if they were already in spring.
Many buyers, sellers and onlookers witnessed the best sales in their lives.
The usual buyers – South Gippsland restockers, local farmers, Garrison’s and Westside Meats’ feedlots and Collison’s Meats – attended with intent to buy. No one seemed afraid of the price and there were plenty of discussions about favourable return on investment (ROI).
Steer prices were up about 20c/kg, heifers remained on par with recent sales and cows and calves rose in value. More people are buying cows and calves or PTIC cows knowing they have at least three options for ROI.
VG&VM Vugs, Newry, received $1750 for 18 month-old Angus steers, 512kg. Faye & Danae Forrest, Lakeview, Swan Reach, sold two year-old Angus steers to $1740. R&S Spillane, Orbost, also sold Angus steers to $1740.
Ensay’s MT Mitchell sent in 13mo Angus heifers, estimated 340kg, that sold to spirited bidding at $1245.
R&I Calvi, Woodglen, sold Angus heifers, $1260. Ensay’s BC&CG Flynn sold 14-16mo Angus heifers at $1225. Glenys De Jong, Clifton Creek, sent in a line of Limousin heifers that sold to $1070.
L&C Trading, Toongabbie, sold two pens of 6mo Charolais heifers, $800-$870. Bought for Garrison’s Feedlot, Swan Hill, Ray Matthews said there was “a demanding market for Euro-cross cattle”.
A Tournssoud, Orbost, sold a pen of Angus cows with grown calves, for $2040. Buyers, John and Christine Van Derwerf, Bete Bolong, sold cows for close on $2000 at the previous day’s Bairnsdale fat cattle market.