Feedlotters, commission buyers and farmers from all parts of Victoria and South Australia braved bitterly-cold weather conditions to keep competition buoyant in the galleries at Mortlake for the saleyard's second store sale for July.
Agents yarded 3100 cattle, most of them being well presented and good quality, which agents said was a better-than-expected presentation given we were in the midst of the winter months.
A light pen of 15 Angus weaner steers sold by T & K Netherway that weighed an average of 195 kilograms took out the top price for that type of cattle, and sold for 414 cents a kilogram.
The same vendor also did well with a significant run of heavier steers, as one pen of 32 Angus-cross, 330kg, sold for 400c/kg or $1323 a head.
Across the board, most lighter cattle saw prices slightly dearer, while grown, heavier cattle remained firm.
Weaner steers averaged 344c/kg, while some in that run that weighed under 330kg varied in price depending on quality, ranging from 260-370c/kg.
Weaner heifers sold to 364c/kg, with some pens outpricing steers of similar weights at times.
In dollars a head, steers ranged from $375-$1541, while heifers sold between $364-$1021.
For grown steers, prices ranged from 292-388c/kg or $1061-$2036.
Grown heifers ranged from 200-334c/kg or $539-$1473.
Many feedlot purchasers, including Westside and Thomas Foods International, were present.
Commission buyers Duncan Brown and Campbell Ross also bought much of the lighter yarding.
Local livestock agents and agents from Gippsland, north-east Victoria and South Australia kept competition on a firm trajectory throughout.
Nutrien livestock agent Josh McDonald, Warrnambool, said light cattle were well sought after.
"Overall, I thought heavy cattle sold better than expected, and at times better than last month, while I thought weaner steers were very similar to last month," he said.
"But those little heifers might have been better than we expected and all in all, the day has probably progressed pretty well, considering how cold it was today."
He said cattle showed the effects of a cold, wet season and reflected a winter-type sale but had presented well regardless.
But he said the wide range of buyers also meant confidence was showing with a prospect of drier days ahead.
"With us being in the middle of July and in the depths of the winter, it's interesting to see some more confidence right now, but the fact that it will dry up a bit more sooner than last year reflects all of that," he said.
"There were a few local blokes poking around here too, and with talk of the weather drying up in August, it's not a surprise that people are trying to get some stuff in their paddocks before that happens.
"Comparing to that big wet season last year from September to October, the wet weather we are seeing this year is keeping interest a bit earlier than expected, but it is what it is."
The sale began with a charity sale of two grown steers from Fitzgibbon Farms, 660kg, which raised $5700 for the Let's Talk Foundation, a charity with an aim to break the mental-health stigma.
JT Crowe & Sons sold 20 Angus grown steers, 458kg, for 380c/kg or $1743.
Lowana sold 25 weaner steers, 345kg, for 382c/kg or $1320, and also topped the weaner heifer run, selling a pen of 12 Angus weaner heifers, 339kg, for 340c/kg or $1153.
Prestenholme Rural had a significant run of grown Angus-cross steers, with one pen of 35 steers, 559kg, selling for 364c/kg or $2036.
Rockleigh sold 14 Angus weaner steers, 321kg, for 350c/kg or $1126.
S & L Robinson sold 12 Angus grown steers, 512kg, for 355c/kg or $1819.
MJ & MT Dillon sold 20 Angus weaner steers, 360kg, for 364c/kg or $1310.
Ellimatta Partnership sold 32 Angus weaner steers at the sale, 330kg, for 400c/kg or $1323.
Rifle Ridge sold 25 Hereford-cross heifers, 441kg, for 328c/kg or $1448.
