PRICES were sustained at recent higher trading levels during a store cattle market of 1000 head at Colac on Friday.
Competing for a larger than expected penning, a particularly large and mainly local of field of restocker buyers were keen to make good the abundant season while interstate orders placed from South Australia also helped to consolidate the demand.
In the opening lane a modest selection of grown steers struggled, however, to ring the bell with major feedlots inactive on the day.
Heavy steers made $1250 to a market top of $1465 a head to average 287c/kg while feeder weight steers, purchased by restockers, found demand more to eager make $1190 to $1360 a head and averaged 318c/kg lwt.
Lighter yearling steers made $1070-$1230 and averaged 355c to close well up on recent past district sales.
Charles Stewart auctioneer Jamie McConachy said it was a surprise that extra numbers were received when there was no urgency in the district to sell.
“(Agents) expected the sale was have some fizz due to the local season and the size of the crowd that attended further added to those expectations,” he said.
Charles Stewart-Dove principal Terry Dove agreed there was nothing wrong with the result. “The sale has delivered all that we expected,” Mr Dove said.
There was nothing wrong with the result, the sale has delivered all that was expected.
- Terry Dove- Charles Stewart Dove
Heifers that were well bred found competition again strong for those selected for future breeding programs.
Heifers were generally sold for an average of 300c/kg however those selected for breeding programs frequently topped 320-330c/kg while those destined for the feeder-finishing were sold accordingly at less value.
A hight of the sale was an amount of $2250 a head paid for an outstanding pen of Angus cows, with 4-5th Angus calves at foot.