Ballarat's store sale strong from "go to whoa"

But a shortage of very light steers and heifers saw prices tick up to the high 800 cents a kilogram - in one case it tipped over 900c/kg.

Agents yarded 4035 head of steers, heifers and cows and calves, double last month's offering.

Charles Stewart Ballarat auctioneer Jamie McConachy said it was another solid sale.

"It continues to rise, month in, month out, and has done for nearly two years," Mr McConachy said

"You've got some major feedlotting operations who are putting in a tremendously big floor in the market, even the larger processing companies are feeding now

"You have the grass fatteners on the fringe of it all and it's creating a continual upward spiral."

He said there were some operators in the market who could handle a lot of cattle

"It's a powerful dynamic, at the moment."

J&F, Teys, Hopkins River and Creek Livestock, and commission buyers Campbell Ross and Duncan Brown picked up large numbers of cattle.

Bowyer & Livermore, Bathurst, NSW buyer Todd Clements picked up cattle for northern orders.

"It was certainly no cheaper, some spots were stronger, but heifers may have been a bit easier," he said.

"That may have been due the the fact there weren't any big lines of heifers, for the breeder competition."

Elders Ballarat livestock manager Graeme Nicholson said the sale was extremely strong, "from go to whoa, from top to bottom".

"Our heavy cattle sold exceptionally well, up to 540c/kg for 600kg heavy steers, which was exceptional money," Mr Nicholson said.

"The feedlotters ruled the roost, particularly on any cattle with any weight."

Backgrounders and grass fatteners bought the lighter cattle, to put away.

"There was a strong crowd of buyers from everywhere."

In the steer lines, stock weighing 300-450kg sold from 600-750c/kg, "with exceptions above", while heifers sold from 500-650c/kg.

"Any of the 380-450kg heifers sold exceptionally well."

TB White Ballarat livestock agent Tom Madden said agents expected to see higher numbers in as spring progressed.

"You got into your weaner weights and they were making upwards of 650c/kg and onwards, getting into the mid 700ckg and into 800c/kg for some selected, lighter calves," Mr Madden said.

"There weren't many lighter calves here, so the price was a little bit exaggerated, because the demand for them is so high.

"We are blessed with a very good spring around here, so you would expect anyone who has got those lighter calves should be able to make them into heavier stock and carry them through to the February sales."

Read more: Ballarat pushes over 800 cents a kilogram for light steers

One of the lightest pens of steers was offered by J Casser.

The 15 Angus steers, 201kg, made for $1840 or 915c/kg.

And Howells and Son sold 20 Angus steers, 211kg, for $1850 or 894c/kg.

The lighter pens of steers, between 200-250 kilograms, consistently made more than 700c/kg.

And MK & D Morcombe sold seven Hereford steers, 207kg, for $1650 or 797c/kg.

Brian Kenyen sold five Hereford steers, 197kg, for $1430 or 725c/kg.

DD & BA Wrigley sold 15 Angus steers, 271kg, for $2000 a head or 737c/kg.

In the first run of heavy steers, MK Walsh sold 12 Weemalah-blood steers, 628kg, for $3390 or 539c/kg.

Andrew Miller sold 10 Angus steers, 673kg, for $3280 or 487c/kg.

Spring Creek Organics sold 11 Angus steers, 602kg, for $3040 or 504c/kg.

R McCowan sold 11 steers, 598kg, for $2950 or 493c/kg.

Malabar sold 17 Merridale-blood steers, 517kg, for $2900 or 560c/kg.

B & J Touhey sold 20 Kennys Creek-blood steers, 513kg, for $2900 or 565c/kg.

Roslan Farming sold 35 Murdeduke-blood steers, 416kg, for $2570 or 617c/kg.

MW & J Ryan sold 13 Weemallah-blood steers, 548kg, for $2890 or 527c/kg.

MJ & AC Smith sold 10 Wolbull and Beaumont-blood steers, 530kg, for $2750 or 547c/kg.

Glen Brothers sold 16 Tarcombe-blood steers, 437kg, for $2740 or 627c/kg.

R & R Baker sold nine Angus steers, 457kg, for $2650 or 578c/kg.

Alexander Partners sold nine steers, 473kg, for $2590 or 547c/kg.

D Vanstan sold seen Marschay-blood steers, 491kg, for $2720 or 554c/kg.

They also sold nine Tiarna-blood steers, 524kg, for $2820.

Sunnyside Farms sold 12 Banquet-blood steers, 446kg, for $2700 or 580c/kg.

GW & AC Hare, West Lee, sold 55 Tillabudgery-blood steers, 391kg, for $2460 or 629c/kg.

Their seconds, 38 steers, av 345kg, sold for $2300 or 666c/kg.

Pental Island Produce sold 24 steers, 331kg, for $2070 or 625c/kg.

Malabar sold eight Merridale-blood steers, 472kg, for $2700 or 572c/kg.

They also sold 16 steers, 390kg, for $2420 or 620c/kg.

EW & W Nisbett sold 11 Franc-blood steers, 441kg, for $2500 or 566c/kg.

Watgania Pastoral sold 20 Island-blood Angus/Hereford-cross steers, 438kg, Omeo Station bred, for $2620 or 598c/kg.

Kilpatrick Farm sold 23 Murdeduke-blood steers, 369kg, for $2370 or 642c/kg.

DR Barrie sold nine Kyah Park-blood steers, 340kg, for $2010 or 591c/kg.

Garvagh sold 30 Dollar-blood steers, 336kg, for $2310 or 687c/kg.

Perewurr Farm sold 13 steers, 293kg, for $2080 or 710c/kg.

Myrniong Pastoral sold 10 Langi Kal Kal-blood steers, 289kg, for $2020 or 699c/kg.

BA Moloney sold seven Beckenham Limousin-blood steers, 281kg, for $2010 or 715c/kg.

Young Cattle Partnership sold 10 Angus steers, 238kg, for $1780 or 748c/kg.

They also sold 10 heifers, 233 kg, for $1650 or 708c/kg.

Crossroads Angus sold 18 heifers, 288kg, for $1940 or 671c/kg.

JM & S Smith sold eight Francs-blood heifers, 461kg, for $2200 or 477c/kg.

Rowallan Lodge sold nine Langi Kal Kal-blood heifers, 450kg, for $2330 or 517c/kg.

Sweeny Road Partnership sold 11 heifers, 384kg, for $2230 or 581c/kg.

Coryule Pastoral Co sold eight Allendale and Days Whiteface heifers, 474kg, for $2200 or 464c/kg.

Braelands sold nine Injemira-blood heifers, 469kg, for $2190 or 467c/kg.

Iron Bark Ridge sold 10 heifers, 376kg, for $2110 or 561c/kg.

A&J Russell sold 44 Banquet and Franc-blood heifers, 312kg, to $1900, or 609c/kg.

Touhey sold 23 Angus heifers, 393kg, for $2380 or 605c/kg.

Sovcit Pty Ltd sold 14 heifers, 158kg, for $1330 or 841c/kg.

Mena Park, sold 22 Angus heifers, 224kg, for $1650 or 736c/kg.

Laureville sold 11 Murdeduke-blood heifers, 323kg, for $1820 or 563c/kg.

Garvan Park sold 23 Angus heifers, 393kg, for $1910 or 486c/kg.

Malabar sold 17 Angus heifers, 401kg, for $2390 or 596c/kg.

Mt Mercer sold nine Angus heifers 288kg, for $2390 or 830c/kg.

Hillview sold 14 Angus heifers, 304kg, for $1920 or 631c/kg.

Geoff Wilkinson sold 18 Angus heifers, 283kg, for $1800 or 636c/kg.

JM & S Smith sold 15 Angus heifers, 253kg, for $1700 or 672c/kg.

Casser sold 18 Angus heifers, 217kg, for $1620 or 746c/kg.

Rutherford Park sold six Angus heifers, 226kg, $1680 or 743c/kg.