Calves make 'enormous money' at Yea store sale

Agents yarded about 1800 cattle as recent rain in NSW and Queensland bolstered confidence and demand across all lines of cattle.

Rodwells Yea branch manager Tyson Bush said heavy steers sold to $1730 and made anywhere from 340-370 cents a kilogram.

"We had three or four feedlotters operating, there was probably three or four commission buyers buying for feedlotters and agents in NSW and a lot of local action from Mansfield, Euroa, Alexandra, Yea and Kilmore and Gippsland was fairly strong too," Mr Bush said.

"The middle run of steers sold extremely well and made anywhere from 380-460 cents a kilogram and lighter steers were anywhere from 400-470 cents a kilogram.

"I thought it was one of the best sales I've seen price-wise and that's simply because of the rain."

John Canavan sold 19 Angus steers, 483kg, for $1730 or 358c/kg.

Murrundindi Enterprises sold six Angus steers, 470kg, for $1700 or 361c/kg.

Mundry Pastoral sold seven Angus steers, 452kg, for $1640 or 362c/kg.

Heifers were dearer on the previous Yea sale, making anywhere between 290-330c/kg on average.

Landmark Yea branch manager Chris Pollard said spring-drop calves made "enormous money".

"The steer job was off its head, it was unbelievable. We had steers making over $4 and up to $5 a kilo," Mr Pollard said.

Brian Tresize, Pyalong, sold a pen of Angus rising two-year-old steers, 430kg, for $1690 or 393c/kg.

J and P Rouget sold 12 Angus steers, 415kg, for $1590 or 381c/kg.

B M Leahy sold three Angus heifers, 526kg, for $1380 or 262c/kg.

Mundry Pastoral sold five Angus heifers, 425kg, for $1270 or 298c/kg.

Elders Yea livestock agent Jamie Quinlan said the top pen of mixed age cows and calves with September/October-drop calves at foot by K and J Webb, Caveat, sold for $1975.

"The confidence in the industry whether that be through kill cattle or back-grounders and feedlotters is very strong and I can see the momentum continuing on in the next two-to-three weeks," Mr Quinlan said.

"The sale was inline with everywhere else in the country, it was a very buoyant sale."

It comes as agents at Yea will change the order of the store sales moving forward, opting to sell the cows and calves before steers and heifers for penning purposes and to help with the flow of future sales.

"It was a good yarding of cattle, but not the best, and we had lots of smaller lots of cattle and no big feature lines but in saying that it didn't seem to matter because the sale was very strong," Mr Quinlan said.

"Most back-grounding steers 270-370 kilograms made in excess of $4 a kilo and heavier steers 370 kilos and above made $3.50-$3.75."