We all strive to get the best return for our cattle when selling, but at times we need to learn about our end product.
Hoof & Hook competitions give some producers the chance to learn and improve what they do, using the carcass results to their advantage.
Yvonne Scholls, Bayles, was awarded champion carcass from the Pakenham Agriculture Society’s 2017 competition.
Supported by and slaughtered at Radford’s of Warragul, Yvonne’s steer scored 89.517 points to win champion carcass.
Graded under MSA standards, this steer would have been at, or near the top price at Pakenham’s trade sale, Monday.
Top quality vealers sold to 332 cents per kilogram liveweight, in a dearer market.
The rain that covered all of Victoria, too much in some areas, gave respite to pastures, although many croppers would not feel happy, as damage could amount to millions of dollars.
However, the rain did shorten up supply, and this led to strong demand from processors.
Damaged crops has hightened the demand for grain, and the sharp lift in feed grain prices led to differing demand from feedlots, and some restockers.
The rain caused supply to halve at Wagga Wagga, Monday, but the smaller supply of yearling steers sold for an average of 306c/kg for the larger percentage.
The deluge seen mostly on the ranges of the north east of Victoria, will have an ongoing affect, but for most of Victoria and southern NSW, supply will not be affected, away from the start of this week.
In fact Wodonga agents yarded just over 2000 head, which was a slight improvement, and Shepparton was reported as similar in number to the previous week.
In the north east, Wodonga yarded a large and very good quality offering of vealers, and the increase in numbers aided a slight drop in price.
Around the markets, top quality vealers sold from 300-325c/kg, and many of the others were snapped up by restockers, generally at dearer rates.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, eased last week, but improved again (582.25c Monday) due more to the increased demand from restockers, after the big rain.
The supply of grown steers and bullocks lifted slightly. Heavy bullocks sold firm to dearer, last week, and Monday, but eased slightly Tuesday. Most sold from 260-278c, and averaged around 269c/kg lwt.
Cow prices ebbed and flowed. Pakenham had the highest prices, selling to 256c, but most sales of better quality beef cows were from 220-238c/kg. Lean types sold mostly between 165&215c.