SUMMARY

YARDED: 2700

EYCI: 1038c/kg

Feeder (EYCI) rating: +35pts

Steers: 500-650kg: $2720-$3390, av 524c/kg: 360-500kg $2170-$2830 av 596c/kg; 280-360kg $1800-$2310, av 658c/kg; 200-300kg $1700-$2000, av 747c/kg

Heifers: 360-500kg: $1910-$2400, av 537c/kg; 280-360kg $1780-$2180, av 588c/kg; 200-280kg: $1620-$1810, av 675c/kg

 

A SHARP increase in month-to-month supplies was adequate to stem the spiraling demand in Ballarat store cattle prices on Friday.

Numbers more than doubled from 1950 to just on 4000 head compared to Ballarat’s month-earlier sale, and with more weight and quality across the yarding buyers were not as hard pressed to fill requirement.

Compared to the September sale results, prices achieved were mostly firm with lighter heifers again dearer as the exception. These again met with increased demand while the heaviest of the grown steers were easier by 10-20c/kg.

HF Richardson auctioneer, James Haddrick said the market went well but didn’t quiet carry the intensity for the heaviest steers and heifers as in the previous months.

The rest of the sale though was firm Mr Haddrick said.

“Feeder steers and the best of the weaners in the large lines was very similar in value while the lighter heifers may have been a touch stronger”.

Nutrien auctioneer, Xavier Shanahan said interstate orders from Bathurst, NSW, and south east SA along with commission-buyer held orders helped underpin the demand for the weaner penning however interest from Gippsland was not offered.

“There still a bit wet down there I would suspect and yet in spite of the larger numbers there was still a lot of interest, and some of our locals who didn’t want to buy at the rate” Mr Shanahan said.

Watch Beef Central full interview with Xavier Shanahan:

The market top was a yard of heavy weight Angus, 624kg that made $3390 or 540c/kg for MK Walsh, while Andrew Miller sold a pen of extra heavy Angus, 674kg, at $3280 or 486c/kg.

Other sales of heavy grown steers included 21 Angus, 614kg, that made $3220 or 524c/kg for Kenfig Partners while MW&JL Ryan sold 13 Angus, 548kg at $2890 or 527c/kg.

Simon Tuohey, Serpentine trading as Malabar sold 17 Angus, 518kg, at $2900 while BP & JM Tuohey, also of Serpentine received the same money for 20 Angus, 513kg.

According to both agents the demand from feeder buyer was unfazed by the rise in numbers with several good orders in place.

Teys Charlton, J&F (JBS), Hopkins River and Nutrien Tamworth were all keen for feeder from the grown steer penning with overall purchases averaging around $5.80/kg across the primary 400-500kg feeder weights.

Large lines were also eagerly snapped up.

Colac vendor, Laravale went well rewarded with a $6/kg sale-average for yards of 31 Angus, 477kg and a second pen of 27, 458kg, that both made $2830.

Watgania Pastoral sold a yard of 20 Angus, 438kg, at $2620 or 598c/kg. Rosland Operations, with a large pen of 35 Angus, 416kg, netted $2570 or 617c/kg while Garvan Park, Avoca, received $2510 for a pen of 25 Angus, 407kg, that also equated to 617c/kg.

Sales of top-end and larger drafts of weaners also gained tremendous support selling in the $6.25 and almost to $7.00 a kilogram

GW & AC Hare, West Lee sold 55 Angus, 391kg at $2460 (630c/kg) and a second pen of 38, 345kg at $2300 or 666c/kg.

Watgania Pastoral sold two pens of Angus – 36, 383kg, at $2390 or 624c/kg and 24, 363kg at $2240 or 617c/kg while DR Clark sold 20 Angus, 372kg at $2390 or 642kg and a further 30 Angus, 336kg at $2310 or 687c/kg.

Kilpatrick Farming, Werribee sold 23 Angus, 369kg, at $2370 or 642c/kg while JM & S Smith, Burrumbeet sold 20 Angus, 324kg at $2210 or $6.82/kg

A pen of 24 Angus from PJ & JM Leech, Carisbrook weighed at 309kg made $2150 for 695c/kg while Parkland Investments, Mt Wallace sold 15 Angus, 297kg at $2080 equating to $7/kg.

As mentioned, heifers were sold cheaper at the top-end with few feeder orders as eager to take a position as in past months according to Mr Shanahan.

“It was softer for pens over 400kg except for special well-bred lots taken for breeding while those lighter held their value” he said.

A heifer top of $2900 was paid for a pen of Angus/Red Angus heifers 620kg sold by Andrew Miller.

I&G Williams sold 15 Angus, 445kg, at $2200 or 494c/kg, BP&JM Tuohey sold 23 Angus, 393kg, at $2380 or 605c/kg while Watgania Pastoral sold 25 Black Baldy heifers, 386kg at $2210 (575c/kg) and 24 Angus, 363kg, at $2010 or 553c/kg

A yard of 25 Evenly Farms Angus heifers, 312kg, made $1800 (576c/kg) while DL&JE Draffin sold 16 Angus, 299kg at $1870 or 625c/kg.

Mr Shanahan said very few heifers were sold for less than $1800 and steers under $1900.