Mortlake steers fetch 835c/kg last December store sale

Western district agents yarded 5883 cattle at the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange in a sale which agents said was solid and featured "very good quality" cattle.

WVLX Agents' Association president Matt Sculley said the sale was very similar in terms of prices compared to the first December store sale two weeks ago.

RELATED READING: Northern restockers, feedlotters expected to underpin weaner sales

"Grown steers sold to a similar rate of a fortnight ago but were no dearer, while grown heifers faced increased competition with more buyer support," Mr Sculley said.

He said grown heifers in some places were 20-30 cents a kilogram dearer compared to the previous store sale.

The increase in overall quality was credited to more autumn 2020-drop calves on offer.

"In the steer section we didn't see the extreme highs of last fortnight's sale, but the overall breeding and quality was better which led to higher averages," Mr Sculley said.

READ MORE: Western Victoria cattle producers primed for weaner sales

Lal Lal's pen of 16 Angus weaner steers, which were also the best presented pen of steers at the sale, made a high of 628c/kg and returned more than $2700 a head.

"There was increased competition for weaner heifers with some amazing highs," Mr Sculley said.

"The Cherrymount Angus weaner heifers, also the best presented pen of heifers, sold for a top of 742c/kg, returning $2645 a head."

"Friesian and crossbred steers sold extremely well, with a pen of light Friesian-cross steers on account of Serena Downs Pastoral selling for 718c/kg, returning $1235 a head."

Mr Sculley said he was grateful for the support of vendors, buyers and agents during a challenging 12 months and noted the next store sale to return at Mortlake would be on January 6 for the feature female sale.

Overall, 1770 weaner steers sold to a top price of 835c/kg to average 671c/kg, while 645 weaner heifers sold to 748c/kg to average 655c/kg.

RJ & JL Page sold the dearest pen on a cents a kilogram basis with eight Angus steers, 251kg, going under the hammer for 835c/kg or $2205.

PD Hallyburton sold the dearest pen of weaner heifers on a cents a kilogram basis with 31 Angus weaner heifers, 257kg, sold for 748c/kg or $1925.

Cow and calf units sold to a top price of $4200 for three Speckle Park units, consigned by GP & MM Collins, bought by an agent from South Gippsland.

Pregnancy-tested in-calf heifers sold to a top price of $3200 for, consigned by Liewah Nominees Pty Ltd, to an agent at Camperdown.

Among the volume vendors was Greenwald Pastoral Company, Dartmore, which sold 564 Angus weaner steers including a pen of 65 head, 399kg, for 640c/kg or $2555, 104 steers, 362kg, for 672c/kg or $2437, 15 steers, 339kg, for $708c/kg or $2404 and 20 steers, 365kg, for 660c/kg or $2361.

Greenwald Pastoral Co also sold 140 steers, 328kg, for 728c/kg or $2393 and 106 steers, 306kg, for 752c/kg or $2307.

Walter and Elise Dell, Nadoo Pastoral, were also among the volume vendor group with 123 cattle sold including grown heifers which sold to a top price for 584c/kg or $2235.