Steers:
360-450kg $1330-$1557, av 361c;
280-360kg $1158-$1435, av 370c;
Heifers:
280-360kg $990-$1151, av 330c.
A NICE start to the autumn across the greater southwest has firmed Warrnambool store cattle prices by 20 to 30 cents per kilogram.
Offering a larger expected 1600-head yarding on Friday, a field of mainly local feedlot and restocker buyers were keen to buy as a green tinge begins to sweep sou-west cattle paddocks.
Selling agents said the market also operated more freely after having clashed with another district feature market a month ago.
In the opening pen the Fry family, Vinebank, Broadwater sold five Hereford grown steers weighed at 498 kilograms. These made 310c/kg or $1543 a head while the Kelly family, Caramut sold a yard of EU Mooramook Angus steers, 480 kg, at 336c/kg to the $1612 a head market top.
Feedlot operators, Teys Charlton, Thomas Foods and Hopkins Rivers were keen for cattle in the opening lane as most 380kg and heavier pens made 345-366c/kg before climbing to a 401-cent market top in per kilogram terms.
Of the two yards that claimed 400c sales, Limestone Ridge cleared 13 Angus, 358 kg at 401c/kg to the Nestler family of Princetown while BP & ME Smith sold 12 Angus, 353kg at 400c/kg to Hopkins River.
A second yard of Limestone Ridge Angus steers, 373 kg also went on the Princetown truck at 364c/kg while Castlemaddie sold, at 386c/kg, a yard of 21 Angus steers, 315kg, to Landmark Deniliquin, NSW – also keen for Angus steers following an opening rain across the Riverina districts.
LK Earthmovers sold 13 Angus-Hereford steers 386kg at 372 kg to Colac agency, HF Richardson while Creek Livestock of Mt Gambier, SA also claimed a number of yards including 11 Angus, 380 kg, sold at 362c/kg by Erinmoor.
Hereford steer sales were best represented by Sinnott brothers, Robert and Thomas of Yambuk selling a yard of 20, 392kg at 360c/kg while LK Earthmovers sold a yard of 20 Herefords, 333kg at 358c/kg.
A moderate display of crossbred steers generated plenty of interest in the 280-300c/kg price bracket while yards of Friesian steers and Friesian bulls made 240-272c/kg.
Inquiry for heifers, although not as aggressive sought by feeders saw a host of sales made in the 330-340c/kg price range, before topping at 342c/kg for AJ & MA Mullins with a yard of Angus weighed at 379kg while Monivale sold 19 Angus heifers, 304kg at 336c.
Most cow/calf sales were made from $1900 to a best of $2440 while PTIC heifer sales topped at $2020 for a yard of Charolais, calving April to an Angus bull.