Pakenham heavy steers bring high prices

Around 2000 head were yarded.

Alex Scott and Staff auctioneer David Setches said there were some better lines of cattle than a fortnight ago, despite being a smaller yarding.

There were more heavy steers between 500 to 600kg, which sold up to 430c/kg, he said.

"That took a big lift on the back of the fat market Monday, that took a 10 to 15 cent rise," he said.

"Enormous money coming out as much as prime bullocks... it was incredible."

CA Coady, Flinders, sold the first pen of 12 steers, 631`kg, for $2650 a head or 420c/kg.

D & J Smith, Flinders, sold 18, 594kg, for $2540 or 427c/kg and a second pen of 20, 567kg, for $2400 or 423c/kg.

C & C Watkins, Dromana, sold 18, 519kg, for $2370 or 456c/kg and a pen of 18, 435kg, for $2090 or 480c/kg.

I Scholes, Merricks, sold 13, 495kg, for $2300 or 464c/kg, while T Pepicelli, Somerville, sold 16 weighing 498kg for $2290 or 460c/kg.

Q Hazzard, Flinders, sold a pen of 16, 436kg, for $2070 or 474c/kg, and Mrs J Lansell, Merricks, sold 12, 443kg, for $2130 or 480c/kg.

Roslyn Turner, Kyneton, sold a pen of 28 Charolais steers, 323kg, for $1720 or 532c/kg and 20 Charolais heifers, 304kg, for $1540 or 506c/kg.

Glenavis, Catani, sold a pen of 12 steers, 384kg, for $1860 or 484c/kg.

T & E Fall, Yarra Junction, sold 29 steers, 610kg, for $2570 or 421c/kg and Douglas Briston, Yering, sold 16, 566kg, for $2390 or 422c/kg.

Burnside Pastoral sold 11, 603kg, for $2540 or 421c/kg and a pen of 16, 462kg, for $2250 or 487c/kg.

Adams Grazing, Yarra Glen, sold eight weighing 485kg for $2350 or 484c/kg.

RJ Close, Lang Lang, sold 12 Herefords, 604kg, for $2460 or 407c/kg while Geoff Murray, Nar Nar Goon, sold 10 Herefords, 547kg, for $2300 or 420c/kg.

JM & MJ Goldthorpe, Yarragon, sold 16, 621kg, for $2590 or 417c/kg, a pen of 15, 606kg, for $2540 or 419c/kg, a pen of 15, 599kg, for $2500 or 417c/kg, and a pen of 14, 564kg, for $2370 or 420c/kg.

R & K Styles, Thorpdale, sold 17, 571kg, for $2380 or 416c/kg, while Heyson Pastoral sold 23, 489kg, for $2310 or 472c/kg.

Mr Setches said local graziers were seeking the lighter cattle.

"I did notice Gathercole's who are feeding a lot of these calves, he's some right down in his weight too - he' was buying calves that were only 250 and 260kg.

"He's kept that lighter end of the steer job pretty buoyant as well."

G Danks, Vesper, sold 14, 458kg, for $2060 or 449c/kg, a pen of 14, 429kg, for $2010 or 468c/kg, five weighing 363kg for $1780 or 490c/kg.

The vendor also sold six heifers, 393kg, for $1830 or 465c/kg.

G & J Cook, Athlone, sold 12 steers, 280kg, for $1520 or 542c/kg and eight heifers, 256kg, for $1350 or 527c/kg.

Fleming & Hutchinson, Mertonvale, sold 14, 327kg, for $1770 or 541c/kg while J T & P Fleming, Willung, sold nine, 391kg, for $1780 or 455c/kg.

Everitt, Seeley and Bennetts auctioneers Jarrod Bennetts said the cattle presented exceptionally well.

"Feedlot competition and demand - they were all lined up," he said.

"There was at least three or four operating and just put a real floor in the market because they're all trying to secure a load."

Pens comprised of unweighed, light calves also sold very well and the cows and calves sold markedly better than a month ago, he said.

"It was very strong, the whole day's been buoyant," he said.

Heifers also sold very well throughout the day.

Mr Setches said the heavier heifers sold up to 15 cents better than expected.

D Bowen-Day, Neerim South, sold 11 heifers, 405kg, for $1820 or 449c/kg, while AP Morgan, Koo Wee Rup, sold 12 heifers, 362kg, for $1710 or 472c/kg.

M Stapleton, Wallan, sold 12 heifers, 294kg, for $1400 or 476c/kg and PD & KJ Anderson sold 10, 346kg, for $1630 or 471c/kg.

Both agents agreed West Gippsland was getting dry in parts in the leadup to winter.

"It's the first yarding we've seen get under 2000 cattle for quite some time," Mr Setches said.

"We're all sort of wondering where calves might be in the spring and how quiet it might be in the spring."