An excellent quality yarding of all categories at the Central Victorian Livestock Exchange Ballarat on Friday attracted good competition and prices registered accordingly.
With concerns over coronavirus COVID-19 impact on the processing sector and restrictions on buyers and vendors being present, agents were extremely pleased with the results overall.
Elders Ballarat auctioneer Graeme Nicholson said that despite the concerns it was a "very strong sale all round" with steers on a par, if not better than the sale a month ago.
He said heifers were possibly softer compared to the heifer sale three weeks ago which was the peak of the market.
He said he advised his clients to "take the money and run because we may not see these prices again".
Nutrien Ag livestock manager, Xavier Shanahan, Ballarat, said the quality of the cattle was excellent and the cattle had more condition than normally in July.
He said a good autumn had seen the spring-drop cattle presented, nine months old, were 40 kilograms heavier than normal.
He said that while the whole sale was excellent, the feeder cattle and heavier weaners "may have been a bit easier" but the lighter steers were dearer and the heifers were firm to a shade cheaper than the previous heifer sale.
Mr Shanahan said produces had their weaners "a bit forward" from normal and some were "jumping out of them".
In light of everything that was going on about the place, the sale was excellent, he said.
HF Richardson auctioneer James Haddrick, Ballarat, said it was an exceptional quality yarding both in quality and weight.
The heavier, feedlot steers, mainly sold from 385 cents a kilogram to just touching 400c/kg. The lighter the cattle got the more above 400c they made.
The heifer sale was not quite as high as the previous sale, but still an excellent result.
He said buyers from the north and southern buyers were strong, while Gippsland did make purchases.
Mr Haddrick said that numbers kept coming forward, driven by prices.
Heavy steers sold mainly between $1700 and $2050 a head.
On a per head basis heavy steers sold to $2050 account Clanvale for a pen of five, 16 months, that weighed 513kg or 399c/kg.
S&L Owen sold 12 steers, 538kg, for $2040 or 379c/kg. The vendors heavy heifers sold to $1850 for a pen of six, 503kg, or 367c/kg.
P&S Attard forwaded a draft hat included 15, Franc blood, 514kg, that made $2020 or 392c/kg. The same vendor sold 10 at 406kg that made $1620 or 398c/kg.
A pen of 10 Murray Grey steers, 18 months, 556kg, sold account Sloane for $2020 or 363c/kg.
Stonehill Partners sold 10 steers, 468kg, that made $1940 or 414c/kg. A pen of 12 from the vendor, 409kg, sold for $1630 or 398c/kg. The Stonehill heifers sold to $1480 for a pen of 14 at 380kg, or 389c/kg.
A consignment from Halfpenny Green included a pen of April/May 2019-drop steers, 426kg, that made $1740 or 408c/kg. In its weaner run the vendor sold 16 at 331kg, for 422c/kg, or $1400.
Wardor Run sold seven, 14-16 months, 366kg for $1520 or 415c/kg. The vendors weaner steers included a pen of 14 at 334kg that made 419c/kg, or $1400.
Top price for a draft from R&L Liversidge was a pen of 24, weighing 263kg, that made 482c/kg or $1270. They also sold 16, 12 months, weighing 293kg, High Spa blood, that made 467c/kg, or $1370.
Weanes sold account Cormelli Trading sold for 459c/kg or $1350 for a pen of 20 weighing 294kg
Black baldy and Angus steers forwarded by S&V Gulle, 10 months, 306kg, sold for 455c/kg or $1395.
MT Freebairn sold 20 steers, 8-10 months, 282kg, that made 453c/kg, or $1280.
Weaner steers sold account Daelroem, 10-11 months, 406kg, sold for $1650 or 410c/kg. A second line of 16 at 387kg sold for $1600 or 413c/kg.
A consignment from Braemenya included seven heavy steers, 508kg, that made $2000 or 393c/kg. They also sold 12 weaner steers, 406kg, made for $1610 or 396c/kg. In the heifer section Brae,enya sold 14 at 380kg for $1480 or 389c/kg.
Weaner steers sold account L&M Woodhead, 9-10 months, 299kg, sold for 438c/kg, or $1310.
A pen of 30 sold account Growcorp, weighing 324kg, sold for 432c/kg, or $1400.
Included in a draft from The Point Pastoral was a pen of 17 at 306kg that sold for 434c/kg or $1330. The heavy heifer portion of the draft sold to $1620 for a pen of 10 at 445kg or 364c/kg. A further line of nine, 416kg, made $1580 or 379c/kg.
Tops of the heavy heifers per head was a pen of 10 Herefords sold account DC&MT Cushing, weighing 567kg, that made $1855 or 327c/kg.
Bungeetop sold 20 heifers, 454kg, for $1840 or 380c/kg.
A pen of nine heifers, 364kg sold account M Rumble, sold for $1450 or 398c/kg.
