Restockers competed with renewed confidence during the Yea store cattle sale on Friday.
With steady rain falling on the overhead roof, restocker buyers from all north-east districts, Gippsland and the local valleys, competed alongside the usual feeder competition.
Rodwells auctioneer Adam Mountjoy said the results achieved on the day were most pleasing.
Mr Mountjoy said while the pens of heavier steers, suiting the feeder trade, were sold at recently improved rates, the renewed confidence shown by the restocker field in the buying of lighter cattle was the most pleasing, with the promise of further rain to fall.
Landmark auctioneer Brian McCormack said while the cents per kilogram rates were acceptable, there wasn’t a lot of weight offered to return the expected dollars wanted for most sales.
In the opening lane, a yard of 12 Angus grown steers, 427 kilograms, made $1250 per head, for Hazelglen, while 15 Murrindindi Angus, 388kg, made $1240, with both lots sold to feeder orders.
Local bullock finishers then claimed two yards of Hereford steers – the first by Kinglake Producers, 389kg, made $1140, while 18 Taunton Park Herefords, 354kg, made $1050.
In the weaner section, Goulburn Park sold nine Angus steers, 351kg, which made $1010, while D Clarke sold Angus steers, 326kg, at $920.
CK&ML Oliver saw their yard of 21 Angus and Angus Hereford-cross, 280kg, make $830, while R Sweet sold 14 Angus steers, 280kg, also at $830.
An excellent display of Euro-breed steers were eagerly sought after at rates above 300c/kg and up to 330c/kg.
AC & F Grant sold 16 Blonde Aquitaine-cross steers, 304kg, at $980, while J McCooey sold two Charolais-cross pens, the first, 23 head, 270kg, made $895, and the second, a yard of 20, 238kg, made $760.
A second yard of Blonde Aquitaine steers, by the Grant family, 301kg, made $885, while 23 Langwell Angus steers, 238kg, made $780, and S Baker sold at $775 a yard of 18 Angus, 225kg.
Demand for heifers varied according to the breed, age, weight and condition.
Murrindindi sold four drafted yards of two and four tooth Charolais heifers, 482-541kg, at $1120 to $1330, while Yarramundi sold 21 Angus heifers, 370kg, at $1010, as these realised 272c/kg.
G Coleman sold Herefords, 313kg, at $700, while J McCooey sold two Charolais heifer pens, 267 and 237kg, at $780 and $665 respectively.
The Grant family’s 22 Blonde Aquitaine heifers, 296kg, made $880, while a second pen of Charolais- cross, 280kg, made the same money.
Cow and calf sales were limited to the one yard of mixed-age Angus, with two to three month-old Angus calves at foot.
Offered as pregnancy tested in-calf, rejoined outfits, these made $1455 for H McCarty (property sold), while Larkefield Estate, Glenburn, dispersed 94 head of mixed-age Angus cows, joined and PTIC to Angus and Poll Hereford bulls for a spring calving.
These were offered over six drafted pens from $740 to $1020.