Despite supply heavily reduced by the State’s heatwave, a quality yarding of 2700 cattle were penned at Bairnsdale on Friday.
The extreme 45-degree heat caused some producers to hold back their scheduled offering, despite this, what was penned was regarded as a quality offering of young and older cattle.
Bullock fatteners and a processor led the charge on the heavy yearling steers, which sold mostly from $1230 to $1570 a head.
Black Mountain Station, Wulgulmerang, sold 45 older yearlings from, $1300-$1570, which sold to a processor buyer and bullock fatteners, one of which was from King Island.
The diversity of buyers, which included a strong contingent of repeat buyers seeking particular lines of cattle, created a strong sale.
P&K Geehman, Ensay, sold 73 Hereford steers, which were mostly 268 to 343 kilograms live weight.
Geehman’s top pen sold for $1280, after a solid battle between buyers, which equated to 373c/kg lwt.
Riley Earthmoving sold 19 Angus steers, 280kgs, for $1020, or 364c/kg lwt.
These sales, which were not isolated either, were excellent in a market where steers varied anywhere from low 200c/kg to 295c/kg for many steers.
A significant part of this sale was the number of vendors from the high country which chose to lines of cattle which were usually destined for auction at the Mountain Calf Sales series in March.
Despite the drought conditions in the high country, these cattle were in good condition, with some weighing more than 2018’s March sales.
Repeat buyers purchased the steer calves of J&G Crisp, Omeo, from $780 to $920, which was at the higher end of the live weight price scale.
D&S Faithfull, Orbost, sold young Charolais steer calves from $500 to $600, which was very good.
However, Faithfull’s heifer calves sold from $490 to $630, which was a better result.
There were several good drafts of quality yearling and younger heifers sold.
Major buyers included Doug Collins, Tasmania, who was active on the heifer offering, Ian Lester, King Island, David Hill, Elders, Omeo, commission buyer Campbell Ross, and HR Richardson agents, Colac.
“We had the right people there but we did did our homework – we got off our bums and rang people,” Sharp Fullgrabe's Graeme Fullgrabe said.
“A lot of our cattle people know are well bred, and good enough to put away and background.
“We had people that paid $600-$700 for a steer, which is a price tag you can have a gamble with and punt on until it rains. If you can feed through, it isn’t a big ask to double your money.
“It is a good valued gamble, but if you put $1000 on a beast, then it is tough going with feed prices.”
The best heifers were seven yearlings of K&S Cordery, which sold to a processor for $1050/hd. Plenty of good quality younger heifers sold between $635-$960/hd. Live weight price equivalents ranged between 220-265c/kg lwt for most heifers.
Producers seeking heifers offered by vendors who normally sold in March, paid up to $880/hd for several pens.
Mr Fullgrabe estimated about 30 per cent of the high country cattle traditionally destined for the Mountain Calf Sales in March would be sold early.
“The main concern is that they are short of water and feed. There are plenty of fellas who are having to sell half their breeding herd,” he said.
“We will be selling about 1000 head six weeks or a month earlier than normal. Some of the calves we sold at Bairnsdale looked in better condition than what they would have in March.
“The calves were straight off mum so while they were younger, they were fresher and in good condition.”
Prices for calved females ranged mostly between $820-$1150, with the top price paid for 18 Angus cows and calves, of K&S Cordery, due to the sale of their property.
“Thank goodness the cow market is where it is otherwise we could be red face – the cow market is the floor price,” he said.
The 34 joined Angus cows of K&S Cordery sold for $990, offered in three lots, and were purchased together.
