Kyneton has celebrated 160 years of cattle sales in very different circumstances to the first one held in the town.
Social distancing rules meant agents were only able to yard 450 head of cattle, spacing them out in the now familiar chequerboard pattern of an empty pen, between stock.
Nutrien Ag Solutions John Robson said despite the small yarding, it was a strong sale, from top to bottom.
"The steers would have been $200 a head dearer than the last sale and cows and calves would have been $200 dearer," Mr Robson said.
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He said Nutrien sold a pen of 2016-17 Angus cows, with October drop CAF, depastured to an Angus bull, for $2250.
Buyers, absent at the last sale, appeared to have returned.
"At the last store sale we didn't have volume buyers, but we had everyone there this week," he said.
"In the past, we've been relying on the feedlots, but they were locked out yesterday."
Local restocker competition underpinned the market.
"The gallery was a lot larger than I thought it might have been."
He said agents had to turn onlookers away, which upset some potential visitors.
"I had to say to them, that it wasn't our decision, it was a government decision that we had to go with social distancing," he said.
"Everyone has a camera these days, and if they saw five or six blokes, leaning on the rail, they would close us down."
Mr Robson said he was hopeful agents might be able to build stock numbers again, for the next sale, if strict social distancing laws were relaxed.
Dean Coxon, Elders, agreed it had been a very good sale.
"Our cattle presented very well, we had a good line of weaners, and a few pens of cows and calves," Mr Coxon said.
"We had to restrict who we let in, people had to be registered before the sale, but it seemed to work well.
"It was a small crowd, but people were there to buy."
He said agents from Pakenham and Ballarat were joined by commission buyer Peter Tuohey, as well as agents acting on behalf of local restockers.
Recent rain gave local farmers confidence.
"It could not be any better, in our area, the way our autumn is shaping up," he said.
"We have as much feed and moisture as we have had for a long time."
Kieran McGrath, McGrath Rodwells, said there was plenty of competition, with agents and buyers purchasing cattle for 35 different clients.
He said the sale coincided with the first one held at Kyneton, in late April, 1860.
"The cattle presented very well and we had some very well-bred cattle," Mr McGrath said.
"I've been here for 29 years, and it's the best autumn I've seen in my time here."
V Lambourne sold 11 Reiland blood Angus steers, 358kg, for $1490, or 416c/kg.
G&D Murray, Blackwood, sold 18 Angus steers, 324kg, for $1180, or 345c/kg.
Granite View sold 19 Angus and Black Baldy steers, 20-24 months old, averaging 530kg, in forward condition, for $1840, or 331c/kg.
Cesnik Holdings sold nine Angus steers, 451kg, for $1580, or 350c/kg.
Omnizar sold 43 Angus weaner steers, by Langi Kal Kal and Barwidgee bulls, averaging between 200-282kg.
The tops made $1360, or 483c/kg, while the seconds, 257kg, made $1290, or 502c/kg.
B Kolosov sold 11 steers, 457kg, for $1470, or 321c/kg.
Xavier Irving sold eight heifers, 399kg, for $1400, or 350c/kg.
The Lambournes also sold five heifers, 342kg for $1180 or 345c/kg.
Langley Pastoral Company, Langley, sold eight Angus heifers, 238kg, for $1030, or 363c/kg.
M Knight sold a pen of 11 cows and calves for $2250.
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
