A leading Warrnambool stock agent has said the recent monthly store cattle sale was probably one of the strongest cow and calf markets ever held at the saleyards.
Open auction steers topped at more than 800 cents a kilogram, with heifers making even more, as agents yarded 2350 head of cattle.
JJ Kelly Stock Agency auctioneer Jack Kelly said cows and calves topped at more than $4000 a unit "numerous times".
"It's grass driven," Mr Kelly said.
"That weather system dumped 40-50 millimetres right through the region here, so it's going to make for a wonderful season."
He said the price on older, heavier cattle, which didn't fit feedlot descriptions, eased back.
"Once they get over that 500kg, they fall out of the feedlot specifications," he said.
"Once you got into the slot again those open auction beef steers and heifers were as good, if not dearer."
He said open auction crossbred steers, heifers and Friesians were dear.
"Everyone has got feed and people who have missed the purebred cattle went to the next category - that reflected in the cows and calves," he said.
He said among the feedlots Teys, Balranald and Creek Livestock were very strong, as was Corcoran Parker.
Delaney Livestock & Property agent Anthony Delaney, Pakenham, bought 320-440kg heifers.
"Commission buyer Duncan Brown was there and that's great, because it puts a wonderful floor in the market," Mr Kelly said.
"Duncan is so versatile, he can buy anything on four legs."
Open auction steers topped at $2080 a head or 820c/kg, while heifers made $1710 or 866c/kg.
Steers weighing 500kg made 540c/kg and above, while those weighing between 400-500kg sold for 540-595c/kg, and those between 300-400kg went for 595-700c/kg.
Heifers 400kg and above sold for 510-548c/kg, and between 300-400kg for 550-648c/kg.
F1 heifers sold for $1750-$1980, with crossbred steers going for 460-520c/kg and Friesian steers for 410-436c/kg.
Brian O'Halloran auctioneer Anthony Mahony said there was a "wonderful run" of heifers that had been pregnancy tested but were not in calf.
They were picked up by the feedlots.
"Those bigger steers, with a bit of weight, made the high 400c/kg, and Clarke Roycroft, Elders, got a few of those," he said.
"Teys were very strong on the next runs of cattle, for the 500kg steers, they paid a top of 580c/kg."
He said crossbred steers were slightly cheaper, but Camperdown buyer Clayton Horspole had an order for 420-460kg Friesians.
"He put a good line of them together, consistently priced from 420-430c/kg," he said.
He said the lighter Friesian calves were $100-160 dearer than last month.
Oyster Bay sold 18 Angus steers, 507kg, for $2433 or 480c/kg.
C&S Dyson sold five Angus steers, 420kg, for $2494 or 594c/kg.
Bassano Angus sold 15 steers, 342kg, for $2394 or 700c/kg.
Tooronga sold 18 Angus heifers, 351kg, for $2091 or 596c/kg.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
