Dry conditions created the need to bring forward Euroa agents annual Black Cattle sale by one month.
Held Wednesday, despite the general dry conditions in the district, and the calves being a month younger, the cattle presented very well.
The offering of 2719 head included yearling steers and some heifers, all of good quality, 2018 autumn drop steers and heifers, and cows with calves.
There was a very good gallery of buyers, which included several feedlots, one or two northern orders, and many local and district producers.
While the previous days rain was sporadic across the wider north east, it did give some inspiration to many local producers.
Commencing the sale on several pens of well finished yearling steers, weighing between 430 and 535 kilograms liveweight, saw the sale open to solid competition. Prices ranged between $1260 and $1515, equaling 279 to 300c/kg lwt.
Strong competition for the very good line up of weaned Angus steers saw feedlot buyers unable to compete. Many pens of steers sold between $850 and $1100 with most equaling 310 to 350c/kg lwt.
Local fatteners were the main bidders, coming from many places within the north east. Hansen Angus, Yea, sold 71 steers from $950 to $1050, and Allanvale Estate P/L, 67 steers from $995 to $1020.
Younger steers sold well too with young steers making from $600 to $830. Beavis Farm sold 77 steers from $700 to $940.
A pen of Charolais-Angus steers sold for $1015, and Gooram Springs, Gooram, sold 26 Angus-Hereford steers to $820.
“Killburnie Estate” dispersed 37 Angus cows in very good condition with their 5th calf, 2-3 months at foot, from $1260 to $1560.
Feedlot competition was much stronger for heifers, which can be attributed to their price. A few pens of yearling heifers sold from $920 to $1180 with several pens purchased for grain feeding.
Feedlot buyers also purchased many of the younger heifers, because the price range of $650 to $860 suited them much better. Equaling around 240 to 260c/kg, prices were fair, but a long way different to their brothers sold earlier.
Strong competition for a large pen of 36 Angus heifers of Allanvale Estate P/L, saw these 287kgs heifers make $860, which was the best sale of the heifers.