A large crowd crammed into the Omeo sale yards for the final Mountain Calf Sale on Wednesday which saw sale averages climb by nearly double compared to the 2019-sale levels.
This year's penning of steers averaged $1443, well above the $777 recorded in 2019, while the heifers averaged $1161 ($645 in 2019).
Elders livestock manager David Hill, Omeo, said the quality of the cattle at the 80th annual sale was a feature.
He singled out the draft of Hereford/Shorthorn-cross, April-May-drop heifer calves forwarded by AJ & BJ Ah Sam, Omeo, that topped the sale at $1810.
These sold in a number of lines for between $1150 and the top of $1810 with the majority going to a repeat buyer for joining.
Mr Hill said it was a credit to the vendors who had looked at selling in January prior to the recent rains had reaped the rewards for holding on.
He said it was a similar situation with the top steers of CR & YM Connley who sold 18 month-old steers that topped the market at $1750.
He said the vendors had held the cattle for this sale and had reaped the reward.
The second pen was from the same vendor making $1550 for 11.
The Connley's heifer portion sold between $1380 and $1530.
Mr Hill said the weaner steer section of the sale sold mainly from $1400 to $1600 plus, or an estimated 460 to 500c/kg.
He said feedlotters were strong as were repeat buyers from South Gippsland, the Riverina and northern areas of NSW as well as South Australia.
He said the result was a great boost for the district.
He said that with the rain on sale day, many vendors hadn't had a Christmas with fires and the prices were a great result for the district.
Mr Hill said the mountain calf sales were concreted and the return of the season would see the Ensay sale come back.
Mr Hill also put together a consignment of heifers - "we couldn't compete on the steers" - to put back in the paddock for grass finishing.
He said the option was to put a bull with them.
The steer portion of the Ah Sam draft topped the weaner section of the sale with a price of $1630 for a pen of 21. A second pen from the draft made $1610. The same vendor sold 25 at $1590 and 18 at $1550.
RE & CL Foster received $1590 for a pen of 22 steers and a second line of 23 made $1540.
A draft from S & SN Lawlor topped at $1570 while a second pen of 31 made $1500 and a third draft of 25 sold for $1400.
PC & CG Faithfull sold steers to a top of $1560 on two occasions - once for a pen of 13 and again for a pen of 31. A third draft of 11 sold for $1530. The heifer portion from this draft sold to a top of $1450 for 18.
Twenty-four steers sold account BJ & BM Flannagan for $1570 while their seconds made $1450.
MW Batty & MW Valentin forwarded a consignment that sold to $1480 for 17 steers and $1450 for 18. Their thirds sold for $1390. The heifer portion of their consignment sold to a top of $1170 for 12
A pen of 13 steers account GV & JG Crisp made $1390.
RA & W Newcomen sold 11 heifers that topped at $1320.
The majority of heifers in the penning sold in a narrow range between $1000 and $1300.
Elders auctioneer Morgan Davies, Bairnsdale, said expectations were met this year "after a dismal sale" last year.
"These cattle today were making double last year's sales," he said.
"The calf sales are a big part of the job and we have a good group of young auctioneers who get to be part of that."
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