Prices lifted at the November store cattle sale with a strong gallery of buyers competing for good lines of local vendor-bred cattle in the 3000 head yarded.
Weighed steers made from $2.80-$3.10/kilogram and topped at $3.70/kg for 20 10-month-old Hereford Angus cross steers, average weight 395 kilograms.
Weighed heifers made from $2.60-$2.85/kg. In the open auction, big steers sold from $870-$1030, smaller steers for $720-$870 and light steers from $500- $720.
Cross-bred cattle sold from $2.10-$2.40/kg and in the open auction from $670-$920. Unjoined F1 heifers went for $1460 and in the open auction, heifers fetched from $670-$800.
Smaller heifers went for $450-$670 while most cows and calf units sold from $1000-$1400.
Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Kieran Johnstone said the sale had enjoyed “grass fever” because there was plenty of grass about locally and further north following decent rains.
Mr Johnstone said buyers included feedlotters. They had come from SA, NSW and Tasmania as well as from the south-west.
Pat and Marj Hickey of Timboon were the happy vendors who gained the top price $3.70/kg for their first offering of vealers.
Mr Hickey said they had enjoyed one of the best springs this year, with good growing weather since September.
“It was too wet in August-September but it’s been beautiful ever since.”
The vealers were the first lot the Hickeys had produced since shifting from dairy production in April.
Also given some of the credit for the good price was Pat Moloney of Terang who sold the Hickeys the cows that were pregnant with the steers.
Another happy vendor was Barry Farley of Toolong who gained $3.10/kg for 21 Angus spring drop steers, average weight (av wt) 363 kgs, Te Mania bloodline.
He also gained $2.78/kg for seven Angus spring drop steers, av wt 440kgs, also Te Mania blood.
Prices included:
Angus steers – Taronga, 20, 533kgs, $2.98/kg, $1588; 14, 491kg, $3, $1473; 9, 393kgs, $3.02, $1186; Hill Point Park, 12, 469kgs, $3, $1407; Elandary Lodge, 21, 422kgs, $3.08, $1299, 21, 379kgs, $3.09, $1171; Treasland, 23, 334kgs, $3.14/kg, $1048; Russells, 10, 395kg, $3.07, $1212; Tooranga, 18 Black Baldy steers, 416kg, $3.18, $1322.
Angus heifers – Toolong, 9, 558kg, $2.54, $1417; G & C Dyson, 14, 449kg, $2.70, $1212, 17, 429kgs, $2.70, $1158; Rosverland, 21, 400kg, $2.67, $1068
Angus cows with calves – Sunnyside, 10, $1775.
Angus heifers with calves – E. Eldridge & Son, 6, $1700.
