Warrnambool cattle sale: Super season leads to strong prices
Mandatory masks and reinstated restrictions did little to dampen the prices at last week’s Warrnambool cattle sale, with producers taking advantage of a great season for the region.
AGENTS and buyers stayed ahead of the curve with all sale attendees masking up ahead of restrictions at last week’s Warrnambool store sale.
But the market remained strong despite the restrictions.
Prices lifted 10c-15c on last months sale amid the “super season” according to Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Anthony Mahony.
“It’s been a super season down here in the Western District, so (producers) have taken advantage of selling off cattle early as feeders and they’re looking to replace again – there’s plenty of feed,” Mr Mahony said.
The sale yarded about 1000 cattle, with around 100 attendees on the day, all masked up and temperature checked on arrival.
Heavier cattle made up to around 410c/kg, while lightweight Angus steers around 240kg made up to 570c/kg.
Heavy grown steers returned between 380c/kg to 415c/kg on the day while lightweight open auction steers weighing 220-280kg generally traded between 500c/kg and 570c/kg.
Quality weaner steers made a top of 426c/kg for two separate lots of Angus steers.
One offered by A & R Beard returned $1358, or 425c/kg, for 17 Angus weighing 319kg and the second offered by Triple R Vic made $1329, or 425c/kg for 11 Angus weighing 312kg.
In the heifer market heavy cattle traded from 370c/kg to 380c/kg for types weighing 380kg to 450kg.
Weaner heifers made around $1300 to $1400 trading from 380c/kg to 400c/kg.
One of the top priced lots of the day returned $1899 or 346c/kg for a lot of 18 Angus heifers weighing 549kg offered by Bass Strait.
The same vendor also offered another 17 Angus heifers weighing 518kg which made $1854 or 358c/kg.
The sale was also interfaced online with StockLive and saw 15 registered online bidders make offers for about 45 per cent of the lots.
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