Steer demand at Ballarat store cattle sale again surpasses expectations

Even regular saleyard watchers, jaded by the big money changing hands over the past year, were taken aback by the strength of demand for cattle at the latest Ballarat sale. Here’s why.

THE “wow” factor surged back into the store market at Ballarat on Friday when steers consistently sold above $2000 per head to set a new benchmark in terms of money changing hands.

Grown bullocks sold to $2650 and genuine Angus weaner steers with plenty of weight sold to $2190.

Preliminary figures had the sale averaging just shy of $2000 per head, which eclipses anything the store industry has seen since it embarked on a boom run in the New Year.

Even regular saleyard watchers who had become jaded to the big money changing hands for cattle couldn’t help but be impressed with sale, describing it as “extraordinary’’ and “unbelievable’’.

Two factors made it possible; a standout yarding of steers that displayed exceptional weight, the majority tipping the scales over 400kg liveweight, and, exceptional demand from the feedlot sector, with about 10 separate feedlots from Victoria, NSW and South Australia all chasing suitable lines of steers for autumn and winter feeding programs.

In liveweight price terms the very heaviest bullocks started at about 380c/kg, with rates then quickly building to 470c/kg-plus for grown steers fitting feedlot specifications, to 500c/kg-plus for the heaviest weaners also destined for grain program, to 600c/kg-plus for lighter weaners.

“It has been phenomenal,’’ said South Gippsland agent Rowan McRae, Elders.

“You have to take into account the quality of the cattle which is just exceptional today, but even so this is a dearer market. To have 400-450kg steers hitting 470c/kg to 500c/kg all day is just incredible really.’’

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