Agents from outside the Macedon Ranges region turned up in force at the July Kyneton store cattle sale, as supplies start to dry up in other parts of Victoria.
Agents yarded 420 head of steers, heifers, PTIC heifers and cows and calves.
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John Robson, Nutrien Kyneton, said considering the number of cattle on offer, the job was "very strong.
"Being cold country, agents are probably thinking they can come here and buy cattle that probably haven't got a lot of condition on them, " Mr Robson said.
"We are coming out of winter here, and that's the type of cattle they are looking for.
"Last month we had better runs of cattle, but I thought the job was very solid."
Agents said heavy steers sold to 385-90cents/kilogram, while in the 300kg plus section, prices ranged between 420-30c/kg.
A few pens of lighter weaner steers sold for between 450-500c/kg.
Kieran McGrath, McGrath Rodwells, said there was a big crowd of agents.
"The quality of the yarding was a fair bit behind last month, but - in my opinion - the cattle have sold very, very well," Mr McGrath said.
"It's equally as strong as last month, considering the quality of the cattle."
He said a month out from spring, now was the time to buy cattle before the season "got going.
"The numbers, at this time of year, are going to be very, very low.
"There are not big numbers of store cattle about, so you have to take the opportunity and buy when you see them."
Dean Coxon, Elders, said buyers from Ballarat, Shepparton, Bendigo and Gippsland were quite active.
"There were agents we don't always see here - we see them from time to time - but it was good to see some new faces," Mr Coxon said.
"A very limited number of cattle stayed locally."
He said local buyers were not yet putting cattle back into the paddocks.
"If the prices were a little bit cheaper I think you would see our locals start to have a go," he said.
"But if the cattle are going to be dear, they are probably going to wait until the end of August," he said.
The market was a little bit cheaper, than a month ago.
Dan Cameron, SEJ, was one of the south Gippsland agents, active at Kyneton.
He said he was looking for the " nice quiet, shapey" steers, he bought for $1350.
"What we are looking for in Gippsland are the lighter, smaller cattle, so they won't mess up our paddocks too much, because it has got very, very wet.
"We are mostly chasing those little weaners, to run on."
He said the better end of the cattle were quite good.
Mr Cameron said he had been to Kyneton about four times, this year.
Tamara Farms sold two Friesian steers, 512kg, for $1350, or 263c/kg.
A second pen of four steers, 460kg, sold for $1740, or 378c/kg.
B Milton, Woodbrook, sold 10 steers, 473kg, for $1720, or 363c/kg.
D McCallum sold 13 Iona-bred, Glendan Park steers, 370kg, for $1410, or 381c/kg.
Comadai's first pen of five steers, 319kg, sold for $1150, or 360c/kg.
Noel Davies sold six steers, 273kg, for $1250, or 457c/kg.
They were among a number of lots which went to SEJ, in Gippsland.
Davies second pen of nine, 219kg, sold for $1110, or 506c/kg.
Waldon's run of steers started with a pen of 11 cattle, 343kg, which sold for $1340, or 390c/kg.
Its pen of five heifers, 363kg, sold for $1290, or 355c.kg.
A second pen of nine, 302kg, sold for $1100, or 364c/kg.
Gadsden sold nine Reiland-blood steers, 258kg, for $1240, or 480c/kg.
Meredith sold a pen of seven unweighed steers for $830.
L&P Mudford's pen of nine Lawson-blood steers, 390kg, sold for $1500, or 384c/kg.
J&C Cameron sold a pen of eight Barwidgee-blood steers, 331kg, for $1420, or 429c/kg.
Mark Borri's pen of six, 346kg, sold for $1460, or 421c/kg.
Sillar Ag sold a pen of 13 steers, 308kg, for $1380, or 448c/kg.
Sillar's eight heifers, 296kg, sold for $1080, or 364c/kg.
D Falloon sold three x three Angus-cross cows and calves for $1790.
AM McCarthy, Woodland, sold five cows for $1700.
R Hargreaves sold a pen of four Limousin-cross heifers, 262kg, for $980, or 374c/kg.
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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.
