KYNETON agents could muster merely 280 cattle for its end of summer store market held on Wednesday.
The small penning contained 41 cows with calves at foot, 100 head of grown and weaner steers, 100 unjoined heifers along with a handful of joined cows.
However due the light supply, a good attendance of local restockers saw plenty leave empty-handed, including two feeder orders that were unable to participate.
“We had plenty of buyers but not enough cattle to sell ‘em,” Kieran McGrath, McGrath Rodwells Livestock said.
“The result was good and it would have still been good had we had 1000 cattle to sell,” Mr McGrath said
“Conditions locally are seasonally dry as one would expect emerging from summer. But there is a tinge of green following a summer storm about a month ago and people are confident to buy and conversely those with cattle are confident hold in anticipation of an early break.”
Mr McGrath said best sales in the steer penning topped at $1260 a head.
He said 404-kilogram Angus steers, made $1205 or 297c/kg, 341kg-Angus steers realised $1090 or 320c/kg, while 366kg-Angus steers made $1120 or 306c/kg. Most steers fetched 284-318c/kg, while light weaners, 220-250kg, made $950 to $1000 as most realised 350-400c/kg.
The cow and calf penning comprised outfits of mixed ages and breeding. Light in condition cows with 3 month-old calves made from $1250 to $1450 while sales of unjoined heifers topped at $1050, with the main lines making $830 to $940 or 270-298c/kg.