Given the very good start to spring in and around Yea, agents yarded 1090 head last Friday.
A very good crowd attended with many following the sale to get an idea of prices in spring.
While prices were quoted as easier compared to the last market at Yea, it was also said that producers were happy with a solid average on the day.
First pen of the sale was designated to R&J Washusen, “Blink Bonnie”, Baddaginnie, for the tops of their yearling Charolais steers.
Although the scales are built, they are not functioning yet, so estimates of these good quality steers, which made $1340, put them in the 305-310 cents per kilogram liveweight range.
Top price of the sale went to J&E Swanton, Koriella, for 21 of their 51 yearling Hereford steers, which sold for $1360. These long frame steers sold from a base of $1050, selling to a feedlot buyer.
Feedlot competition played a strong part in the sale of the first lane of cattle with weight and frame being acceptable to feedlots.
Yearling steers offered were mostly 12-16 months of age, and sold from $1200-$1360. Watson Park sold 38 Angus steers from $1120-$1220.
Most of the younger steers sold over $1000, as it took some time to fall below this. Lighter and young steers sold mostly from $850-$1020.
G Heffernan, Beveridge, sold Angus-Hereford steers, 11-12 months for $1220, and Cathkin Pastoral Co, Cathkin, 28 Angus steers, 10mth, from $1020-$1100.
Solid demand continued into the small sale of cows and calves, and joined females.
Westernvale Farms, Axedale, sold 10 Angus-Shorthorn cows with their third-fifth Limousin calf at foot, from $1880-$2320.
In the joined female section, Limestone Pty Ltd, Limestone, sold 10 Angus cows, 7 years, PTIc to Lawson’s Angus bulls, for $1580.
G Eastaway, Seymour, sold 24 Angus cows, 7 years, PTIC to Charolais bulls, from $1150-$1300. Competition for all of the joined cows included a processor with fetal blood potential creating their interest.
Competition for heifers improved as their weight reduced, creating some very good sales at the lower end.
Leading the heifer sale was a pen of 20 Paringa & Rosedale Charolais blood heifers, offered by A&B Parsons, Alexandra.. At 15 moths of age, these heifers were in very good condition, and sold for $1140.
Sharing the Charolais and Angus breeds was the 35 yearling heifers of R&J Washusen. Their younger Charolais and Angus heifers sold for $950&$960 with older heifers making between $1150&$1180, thus topping the heifer sale.
C Heffernan sold 10 Angus heifers for $1100, and the 17 Hereford heifers of Webster Primary sold from $810-$1010.
Most of the younger, and lighter weight heifers sold between $730&$920. Cloverdale Farms, Narbethong, sold 40 Angus heifers, Welcome Swallow bld, for $920, the buyer taking both pens of 20 head.