Strong support from grass fatteners and backgrounders drove the market for weaner heifers at the Colac Associated Agents female sale on Monday.
Closing out the centre’s two-day weaner program, agents yarded 1132 weaner heifers, 115 in-calf heifers, 117 cow and calf outfits.and 28 joined cows for a total yarding of 1392.
Despite a topsy-turvy season, the yarding presented in excellent condition with vendors targeting this annual fixture.
Colac Associated Agents president, Matt Sculley, HF Richardson, said the sale was a strong result for vendors and above expectations.
The competition was strong from local fatteners matching it with buyers from around the western district, South Gippsland and the south-east of South Australia.
One commission buyer put together more than 200 heifer weaners for clients in western Victoria and South Australia while feedlotters including Creek Pastoral, Teys and Garrison were also active at various stages of the sale.
The bulk of the yarding found plenty of support at between 265 and 285c/kg with a couple of sales topping 290c/kg.
The Euro heifers made 275c/kg to 286c/kg for a large weight range while the Hereford offering made from 250 to 260 with a couple of stand-out lines making up to 267c/kg.
Mr Sculley said there was a good range of buyers from feedlotters that could handle a range of weights.
He said it was a backgrounding area locally and breeders coming to buy replacement cattle.
Values were stronger than recent sales but on the back of the quality and the presentation of the cattle that local breeders strived to achieve.
He said some vendors had sold early in the November sale after a dry spring, but late rain had boosted confidence locally.
The sale included a consignment of Angus from the dispersal of the herd account Dr P Kidd.
Of the heifer portion the best was a pen of 14 weighing 367kg that sold for $1030 or 288c/kg. The line was bought by HF Richardson.
The same vendor also sold eight for $960 or 283c/kg and 11 at $850 or 282c/kg.
The tops of the draft from MA & AL Howard comprising 17 weighing 352kg sold for $1000 or 284c/kg. The seconds weighed 334kg and sold for $910 or 272c/kg.
Shone and Sheedy sold 30 Angus heifers, 340kg, to $950 or 279c/kg and a lighter pen of 27 that made $850 or 276c/kg.
Highest on a per kilo basis was a line of 22 Angus heifers sold account T Low, weighing 295kg making $865 or 293c/kg.
Mingawalla Angus, Beeac, forwarded a draft of weaners that included 29 weighing 326kg that sold for $910 or 279c/kg. The heavier sister at 351kg sold for $960 or 273c/kg.
Of the Charolais cross heifers Williams Estate sold five, 8-10 months weighing 349kg for $980 or 280c/kg.
R & P McDonald sold 12 Charolais cross heifers for $900 or 281c/kg while A & DE Richardson sold eight, weighing 385kg for $1060 or 275c/kg.
In the Hereford offering a pen of 17, weighing 358kg sold account Clactact for $950, or 267c/kg.
Of the cow and calf offering a line of 24 Hereford cows with black baldy calves at foot sold account Stweart, Mount Pleasant, Winchelsea, sold for $1780.
Next best was a line of 10 Angus cows and calves that sold for $1770.
