Observers watching the opening lane of sales at Kyneton’s monthly store cattle market on Wednesday were stunned when prices fell sharply compared to the centre’s month-earlier market.
Correcting some $200 to $300 a head, bewildered local restockers were then left alone to fathom fair value as regular buyers left their buying books in their pockets appearing uninteresting quiet.
However for those who had charted the course of the market decline, particularly over the past fortnight, saw prices as vaguely similar to other recent markets, especially those that taken in an influx of unexpected supplies from distance interstate sellers who are now seeking greener pastures for their cattle they can no longer hold.
And Kyneton, as a likely saleyard outlet, was not overlooked as its numbers on the day also increased unexpectedly from those that had been advertised.
Offering much larger an expected yarding of 800 head, locally raised and grown stock were seen and appreciated more broadly by the limited buying gallery than their imported northern dry-country cousins.
Among the better sales of local stock, R Taylor sold a pen of 379kg Angus steers at $1020 a head while a second yard of Taylor Angus steers, 325kg, made $1050.
Baddaginnie vendor, Fredrick Hills sold 318kg Angus steers at $925 while a second lighter Fredricks Hill yard, 282kg, made $920.
Lemah Park sold Red Angus/Simmental steers, 288kg, at $920 and a second pen of the same, 243kg at $820.
However pens of lightly framed and dry conditioned steers - some a small as 150kg live- made from $490 to $800 a head and appeared fair buying on the day.
The heifer market tolled to a similar tune. The heaviest in the yard – pen of Angus Hereford heifers, 444kg made $900 for R&P Barker while R Taylor sold Angus heifers, 411kg, at $1020.
Well bred black heifers - suitable to grow and join - were well received some making to 300c/kg while selling from $750-$900 a head.
Several consignments of imported, plain conditioned heifers were offered and these also sold at better than expected values, between $600 and $760 a head.
Buying interest in quality pens of young cows with calves at foot was also better than anticipated.
A&L Livestock sold Angus/Red Angus cows, 5-8 years, with Charolais 2-3 month-old calves at $1625.
Vendor, Vaughan Springs sold yards of Black baldy cows, with 2-4th calves for $1850 and $2000 while at $2310 a smart pen of well-bred Shorthorn heifers, with 4-5 month Shorthorn calves, rejoined and Pregnancy tested in calf to an Angus bull, received plenty of bidding attention.