Mortlake feeder-weight cattle up '20-30c/kg' in 4000-head market

Agents yarded about 4000 cattle at the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange for the first winter sale in what many buyers described as an impressive line-up given the time of year.

Feedlotters were out in force, as were restockers who stepped up their quest for cattle compared to the May WVLX sale.

Northern Victorian and NSW enquiries for both backgrounding and restocking also bolstered prices, agents said.

Mortlake Stock Agents Association president Matt Baxter said he expected feeder prices to continue to pick up pace in the coming months.

"The heavy, feeder steers were 20 to 30 cents a kilogram dearer and those weaner steers were similar to the last sale, maybe in some places up by 10c/kg," Mr Baxter said.

"There was more competition for those feeder cattle and less cattle around and I think it's going to get worse going into the winter.

"It was good to see people who bought those dearer cattle earlier in the year get rewarded for them."

The sale started with a minute's silence for former WVLX employee, Nina Barake, who died suddenly last week.

Former WVLX manager, Tim Nowell, remembered Ms Barake as a hard-working and committed individual who played an important role in the lead up to, and after, the opening of the Mortlake complex.

Grown steers sold above $2600 a head, highlighting the demand for suitable lines of cattle to go onto feed.

In the grown steer section, DP & MK Meagher sold the top pen with 21 Angus, 399kg, selling for 534c/kg or $2130 to Thomas Foods International.

Alcheringa Pastoral sold the dearest pen of grown heifers with seven Angus-cross, 367kg, fetching 500c/kg or $1835.

"Those feeder steers went to a handful of buyers including Teys Australia, TFI and a number of other feedlots," Mr Baxter said.

"We also had a buyer from South Australia chasing steers and at least a load went into the north which was a really good result."

Demand for young stock was also firm, with the tops of the weaner market passing $2000.

Ardonachie Holdings sold the top pen of weaner steers with a pen of 33 Angus-cross steers, 198kg, fetching 750c/kg or $1485.

The same vendor also sold 20 steers, 217kg, for 728c/kg or $1580 and three grown heifers, 493kg, for 465c/kg or $2292.

Braemoore Brooke Pty Ltd sold 23 weaner steers, 12-14 months, 431kg, for 526c/kg or $2270.

The Cole family of West Cloven Hills, Bookaar, also passed the 700c/kg mark with 10 Angus steers, 185kg, for 732c/kg or $1354.

The family also sold a pen of 11 Angus steers, 241kg, for 642c/kg or $1547.

R & V Finch sold the top pen of weaner heifers with 24 Angus-cross, 166kg, going under the hammer for 664c/kg or $1102.

"After people have seen the result with the grown steers, they know there is a margin," Mr Baxter said.

"Feeder steers 400-500kg are making $2200-$2400 so I think people have confidence to buy those weaner steers at $1600-$1800 and know they will make money.

"We expect to see this market stay as strong as it is throughout winter and once we get to spring, the job could go anywhere."

MJ & RF Patterson topped the cow and calf market with a unit of eight fetching $3150.

AJ & BA Bourke sold four pens of cows and calves including a top pen of 19 cows with calves at foot for $2850.

Their second pen of 15 cows with calves at foot made $2750, while their third pen of 11 cows and calves also made $2750.

Stony Point Partnership sold 23 Angus cows with calves at foot for $2250.

Meanwhile, Silverhill Angus sold 14 preg-tested-in-calf heifers for $2630.

Other features of the sale included two pens of Rothsay-consigned grown steers, 18-22 months, including a pen of 16 weighing 575kg which made 460c/kg or $2645.

The same vendor also sold a pen of 13 Angus steers, 534kg, for 476c/kg or $2540.

Hazelwood Farm sold nine steers, 20-22 months, 522kg, for 490c/kg or $2557.

Murnane Family Trust sold 17 Angus steers, 524kg, for 484c/kg or $2536.

Tim and Kaye Netherway, Purnim, sold a draft of 194 mixed-sex calves, August and September-2020-drop, including a top of 17 steers, 279kg, for 604c/kg or $1685.

The Netherways also sold 18 steers, 211kg, for 689c/kg and 48 heifers, 246kg, for 618c/kg or $1520.

Nick and Jo Lillie, Bostocks, sold 119 mixed-sex Hereford and Black Baldy calves, eight and nine months, including 10 Hereford steers, 326kg, for 550c/kg or $1793.

The Lillies also sold a pen of Hereford heifers, 255kg, for 512c/kg or $1305.

South Boorook sold a draft of 103 cattle including 44 steers, 304kg, for 602c/kg or $1830.

In the heifer section, Kiltanon sold the first pen of 10 heifers, 446kg, for 481c/kg or $2145.

Tobruk Pastoral sold 13 heifers, 542kg, for 426c/kg or $2308

L Miller sold 22 steers, 546kg, for 470c/kg or $2566.

Kiltanon sold 16 steers, 480kg, for 500c/kg or $2400.

Neathvale sold 21 steers, 390kg, for 534c/kg or $2082.

Bligh Pasotral sold 11 steers, 391kg, for 518c/kg or $2025.

Davencol sold 37 steers, 397kg, for 530c/kg or $2104.

Tesbury Partnership sold 21 steers, 349kg, for 566c/kg or $1975.

Agrifood Consulting sold 25 steers, 290kg, for 564c/kg or $1635.

Newfield Pastoral sold 14 heifers, 416kg, for 480c/kg or $1996.

JF & TM Henty-Anderson sold 10 heifers, 325kg, for 498c/kg or $1618.

Bellerson sold 14 heifers, 331k, for 492c/kg or $1628.

P Moore sold eight heifers, 244kg, for 520c/kg or $1268.

Murrindal Pastoral sold 23 heifers, 245kg, for 580c/kg or $1420.