For many agents, vendors and buyers in attendance at Wodonga's store sale on Thursday, it would have been the dearest market they had ever witnessed, cattle weighing 220 kilograms almost hitting the $8/kg mark, while feeder steers made up to $2550.
"It was absolutely incredible," Paull and Scollard Nutrien agent Luke Deimel said of the sale which saw 1368 head yarded.
Steers weighing 450kg plus sold from 490c/kg to 550c/kg, making $2200 to $2550. Articles weighing 300kg to 360-380kg mostly made $1950 to $2100, getting close to 650c/kg. Steers 200kg to 300kg made from around $1500 to $1800.
It was a feature run of 160 feeder-type Hereford steers from RA and MH Trethowan, Lindawarra, Cookardinia kicked off the sale and sent prices skyrocketing.
Three pens of 20 of their Hereford steers, 15 to 17-months, with Sugarloaf and Glenellerslie blood and weighing an average of 520kg sold for $2550.
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Another pen of 20 weighing an average 496kg sold for $2470 and a further two pens of 23 weighing between an average of 461kg and 448kg sold for $2400, returning up to 536c/kg.
The whole run of Trethowan steers were picked up by JBS.
Angus weaners also sold well, a pen of 13 10-12 months, Dunoon blood, 414kg, from LG and MV Boswell, Table Top made $2210, 533c/kg.
While, James G Crain, Cudgewa, Vic, sold 15 Angus, 12 months, Weeran Angus blood, 359kg for $2160, returning 602c/kg.
Wilksch Partners, Culcairn offered a highly sought after run of Angus weaners, seven to eight months, Rennylea and Rossrich blood. Their first pen of 27 steers weighing an average 298kg made $1970, or 661c/kg. Their second pen of 24 steers, 221kg, making $1675 or 758c/kg.
Sean O'Neill, Jindabyne sold 24 Angus 9 to 10 months, weighing 296kg, for $1950. But it was his second pen of 28 Angus, 222kg, which shocked the crowd, selling for $1770 to return 797c/kg.
European cattle were not too far off the black cattle on offer, a pen of eight Charolais steers, 11-12 months, 411kg, from Goldsworthy Agriculture Pty Ltd, Carboor, Vic, making $2170, 527c/kg.
The same price in cents a kilogram was returned for eight Santa Gertrudis steers, 10 to 12 months, 370kg from WJA and DL Ferguson, Rennie, after they sold for $1950.
Mr Deimel said there were a few active buyers trying to source heifers with some weight and age to put out and join.
"They were heifers 350kg to 420-430kg, making anywhere from $1900 to $2050.
"Heifers 300kg to 350kg heifers were making anywhere from $1750 to $1850, 230kg to 260kg heifers were making from $1500 to $1600."
The top price for heifers was $2220, paid for three Charolais cross from Goldsworthy Agriculture, weighing an average 505kg.
VP and MA Daldy, Arcadia, Vic, sold 11 Simmental cross heifers, 18 months, 428kg, for $2120.
Of the Angus runs, a pen of 15 from BG Pastoral, Pleasant Hills, weighing 418kg sold for $2050. A second pen from the same vendors weighing 369kg sold for $1955, to return 530c/kg.
Wilksch Partners, Culcairn also offered a run of heifers, 22 Angus, 276kg, selling for $1750 to return 634c/kg.
Mr Deimel said he thought plenty of people were selling earlier to take advantage of the market.
"I think people are just seeing the market is incredible and is wondering how long it can potentially last," he said.
"Anyone who normally has autumn-drop calves and would usually sell at this time of year are being rewarded."
Mr Deimel said local agents and restocking buyers were very active, along with a few feedlots operating on the heavier steers.
"I know some commission buyers had orders to go back to the north," Mr Deimel said.
Despite the high prices, he predicted that the store job would hold or even potentially get a bit dearer.
"I just think the grass will explode in a month's time, when the sun's shining and everything's shaping up for a magnificent spring."
The sale was conducted by Elders and Paul and Scollard Nutrien.
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