Steers were slightly dearer and heifers slightly cheaper at the Warrnambool February store cattle sale on Friday.
Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Glenn Judd said steers weighing between 312-380 kilograms sold for between $2.88-$3.06 a kilogram at this month’s store sale compared to last month when they sold for $2.70-$3/kg.
Heavy steers from 400-591kgs made from 248c-279c/kg.
Weighed heifers sold for between 245c-268c/kg which Mr Judd said was about 20c/kg cheaper than last month.
The yarding of 982 head was down on last February’s Warrnambool store sale, which Mr Judd said was possibly because last February’s high cattle prices had prompted more producers to sell.
Among the vendors on Friday was Barry Farley of Toolong who gained $2.98c/kg ($1055) for 14 Angus steers, 12 month old, averaging 354kgs.
Mr Farley said heifers were currently making as much as steers. He said he was selling because he currently did not have much feed.
Prices for prime cattle had eased from last year’s high and that had flowed on to store cattle prices, Mr Farley said.
In the open auction, steers sold from $675 to a top of $980. Cross-bred steers sold between $580-$890 and small steers from $500-$650.
Open auction heifers sold $600-$785 and F1 heifers made from $860 to a top of $1500. Springing heifers to a top of $1520. A pen of eight Speckle Park cows springing to calve early April sold for $1760.
Indicative prices included:
Steers – Wattle Farms, 14 Angus, 591kg, $2.48/kg, $1465; G. L. Pilkington, 19 Angus, 505kg, $2.77, $1398; Boathouse Trust, 28 Angus, 513kg, $2.79, $1431; Est Mrs S H Panazzo, 14 Angus, 397kg, $2.73, $1083; Geraki Pastoral Co, 20 Angus, 434kg, $2.74, $1189; Bluestone Bay, 8 Angus, 368kg, $3; $1104; Greenhills, 10 Angus, 335kg, $3.02, $1011; Oakvale, 5 Black/Baldy, 312kg, $3.06, $954; R.S, Rundle & Sons, 22 Hereford, 324kg, $2.88, $933.
Heifers: B.F. Martin, 9 Angus, 409kg, $2.61, $1067; Green Hill, 20 Angus, 341kg, $2.68, $913; Walood Nth, 6 Angus, 377kg, $2.66, $1002; J.Hay & D.Werchon, 11 Angus, 357kg, $2.54, $906; R.C & E.N Mather, 10 F1 heifers, $1500; Murraba, 29 Angus heifers to calve March-May, $1520; P & V White, 3 Angus cows 7 calves $1775.
