Victoria is in the grip of one of the best spring seasons seen for many years, and this aided some very strong local and Gippsland competition at the regular Yea store cattle sale last Friday.
Several annual drafts of yearling and younger steers and heifers were penned, in a yarding totalling around 2340 head.
Two of the regular buyers of feeder steers and heifers were absent, however, there was still very strong demand from several feedlot operators present. Their interaction with steer and bullock fatteners created solid prices, without seeing any of the very top prices achieved.
A range of yearling steers, mostly spring 2015 drop calves, sold to a top of $1590 with most selling from $1350 to the top price. Ballandry Park, Strath Creek, sold a total of 150 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers to $1590, to average $1477.
All of the yearling steers sold well, most in a range from $1350 to the top price, which were estimated to equal a liveweight price range of 360-385 cents per kilogram, well above fat cattle prices.
Competition from many local, Gippsland and backgrounders, saw lighter weight, steers 5-10 months, sell very well. With plenty of grass in the paddock, producers took it up to other buyers.
GW&ME Oliver, Yea, sold 44 Angus steers, March-April 2016 drop, to $1310, av $1296. Campsie Glen Angus, Glenburn, offered 80 Angus steers, selling to $1330, av $1265. These two annual drafts displayed the strength of the sale for young steers, noted by their excellent average prices.
Processor and feedlot competition set the solid trend in the early part of the heifer sale. Some were purchased for slaughter, but most went for grain feeding, and the price range was very tight from $1250-$1280. Included in this was some breeder competition.
Selling to a top of $1200 was the draft of 91 Angus heifers offered by Campsie Glen Angus. Their average price was a healthy $1100, and GW&ME Oliver sold 44 Angus heifers to $1190, av $1157. Again here, the tight range in prices, creating a high average price, was a good indication of the competition.
Cows and calves sold very well too, showing a lack of numbers in the paddock, and confidence in the future. Annie Forrest, Mansfield, sold Angus cows and calves with their 2nd calf for $3000, and Glen Goulburn Poll Herefords, sold 20 heifers and calves for $2850.
Oakdale Pastoral Co, Tallarook, sold a mixture of cows and calves from $2300-$2500.