Wodonga small calves sell to strong demand

The Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange market featured making weaner calves from across the north-east.

Restockers and feedlotters were actively chasing suitable lines of cattle, as some agents said a shortage of such suitable cattle was contributing to prices remaining at buoyant rates.

BUR Unthank director Michael Unthank said the sale was reflective of the steady demand for cattle throughout eastern Australia.

"We had only a few pens of cows and calves worth talking about and they made up to $3000," Mr Unthank said.

"We also had a few joined cattle and they made up to $2400 and then when we got to the steers, prices for feeder-weight steers made anywhere between 450-500c/kg.

"Once you were under 350kg you needed 500c/kg and as you got lighter you needed up to 600c/kg to buy the lighter end of the steers."

Heifers suitable to go onto feed sold for between 440-500c/kg, with options limited for females suitable for breeding.

"Restocking demand and feedlot demand is underpinning all the prices," he said.

"We haven't seen the fat market change too much but restocking and feedlot cattle and the supply of those has dropped in our area.

"People have plenty of feed and that's really helping with the high demand and prices."

Brewer Fisher Partnership, Mudgegonga, sold 60 mixed-sex Hereford calves, six to 10 months old, including steers which sold to $1750 a head and heifers to $1550.

RJ Hodgkin, Mitta, sold 30 Hereford steers calves, eight to 10 months, to a top of $1780.

Rodwells and Co Wodonga director Peter Ruaro said the quality of the yarding was vastly improved compared to other recent NVLX sales.

"It was very solid and we had a reasonably good yarding due to a few feature lines," Mr Ruaro said.

NK Nichol & Co, Bethanga, sold a draft of 54 Angus steers including a top pen, 383kg, which made $1875 or 489c/kg.