Agents reported a slight drop in quality at today's Pakenham store sale, although lightweight steers maintained demand and sold above 600 cents a kilogram.
The sale saw 2100 head yarded.
Edi Park, Dixons Creek, sold 12 steers, 545kg, for 420c/kg or $2290 a head, while Erricane Investments, Pakenham Upper, sold 19, 486kg, for 462c/kg or $2250.
S & G Willmott sold nine steers, 432kg, for 444c/kg or $1920, and DDC Pastoral Pty Ltd sold 20 heifers, 455kg, for 422c/kg or $1920.
K & J Reedy, Garfield North, sold 12 heifers weighing 329kg for 507c/kg or $1670.
BH & MF Seebeck offered 160 head of Limousins.
The first pen of 16 steers, 356kg, sold for 530c/kg or $1890, while a pen of 26 heifers, 332kg, made 557c/kg or $1850.
A pen of 15 steers, 313kg, sold for 556c/kg or $1740.
A mixed pen containing seven steers and 13 heifers for an average weight of 298kg, saw the steers sell to 563c/kg or $1680, while the heifers made 520c/kg or $1550.
Another mixed pen with 18 steers and 11 heifers, 280kg, sold to 582c/kg or $1630.
A pen of black Limousins, 275kg, saw 12 steers sell to 567c/kg or $1560 and eight heifers to 563c/kg.
The vendor's lightest pen, with an average weight of 222kg, saw 11 steers sell to 666c/kg or $1480 and heifers to 662c/kg or $1470.
Some of the most expensive pens on a per kilogram basis were unweighed pens of spring drop calves.
Nutrien Delaney livestock auctioneer Anthony Delaney said light steers sold particularly well.
"We've seen a lot more calves through here today, early spring drop calves, as opposed to the late, older cattle and autumn calves that we've had come through here," he said.
"Two or three new buyers in the market chasing spring drop calves - it was very, very dear."
He said it was earlier than usual for local vendors to be selling spring drop cattle but the good prices had brought them out.
"Our season's going fine, no worries, but we haven't had the amount of rain and we probably haven't got the feed directly in this area that a lot of areas have," he said.
"It's pretty inviting to sell them now on the cusp of winter at this sort of money.
P Clark & N Schalken, Yarra Downs, sold 20 steers, 321kg, for 560c/kg or $1800.
Geoff Murray, Nar Nar Goon, sold 16 steers, 382kg, for 502c/kg or $1920.
D Durik, Woodstock, sold 13 steers, 390kg, for 469c/kg or $1830.
Shoreham Farming, Shoreham, sold 20 heifers, 386kg, for 467c/kg or $1805, and a pen of 13 heifers weighing 390kg for 461c/kg or $1800.
M & E Barba, Wallan, sold 13 steers, 307kg, for 524c/kg or $1610.
P & J Lawlor, Katunga, sold 15 heifers, 298kg, for 523c/kg or $1560.
Alex Scott and Staff auctioneer Jason Fry said there was a slight drop in quality, with a lot of crossbred cattle offered.
"But the lines of weaner calves that were available sold very, very well," he said.
"We had some calves just under 300 kilos making 630c/kg.
"In my opinion the job's pretty steady, I think it's firmed up over the last four to six weeks.
"I don't think it's got any dearer - every week we were saying it's gone to another level
"The only thing that's probably got a little bit stronger is your black females."
Nathan Gibbon livestock auctioneer Nathan Gibbon said buyers from New South Wales were the most prominent.
"It has been happening for a while... they're soaking up most of the lighter cattle to go that way," he said.
"Black cattle, as per usual, are most sought after."
Rebecca Nadge
Bec is livestock editor for The Land. She has previously worked for Stock & Land in Victoria, the ABC in Kununurra, and newspapers in Kalgoorlie and New Zealand. Contact her at bec.nadge@theland.com.au
Bec is livestock editor for The Land. She has previously worked for Stock & Land in Victoria, the ABC in Kununurra, and newspapers in Kalgoorlie and New Zealand. Contact her at bec.nadge@theland.com.au
