Young cattle hold tight at Mortlake despite price softening
In what is possibly a forecast for prices at the upcoming summer weaner calf sales, young cattle have shone at the latest Mortlake store sale.
PRICES showed no sign of slowing down at yesterday’s Mortlake store cattle sale, which saw almost 3,500 cattle yarded at the saleyard’s final sale of the year.
While prices for grown steers were softer compared to previous sales, prices still averaged 390c/kg-410c/kg, with a top-priced pen making $2298.70 a head, or 436c/kg.
Agents from across the state were active throughout the sale, with agents from Korumburra, Echuca, and Warrnambool buying up cattle, vying with commission buyers such as Duncan Brown.
A number of agents were overheard commenting on the strength of the market.
“There’s no sign of this slowing down,” was commonly mentioned along the rails.
But it was the run of weaner steers and heifers that had producers and agents alike speculating if price averages of 460c/kg-500c/kg seen at Mortlake could foreshadow prices at next month’s summer weaner calf sales.
Weaner steers sold to a top of 578c/kg, while weaner heifers kept up the pace, making returns from 370c/kg to 410c/kg.
Charles Stewart Mortlake livestock agent Matt Baxter said that in recent months, each store sale had surpassed price expectations.
“Obviously the job has come back a bit, but going off the quality of the steers, they are selling well,” Mr Baxter said.
“There are some good quality calves here and they’ll be in high demand. But the season coming into the new year has been pretty kind to us. There’s a lot of weaners in here today that would have been sold at weaker sales.
“But I guess the prices have dragged them out.”
Producers Peter and Julie Waldren from Hamilton sold 43 Angus steers and heifers at the sale, and said consistent weather throughout the winter and spring had bolstered both quality in stock and producer’s confidence.
“It’s terrific, compared to what we would have got a few years ago,” Mr Waldren said.
“It’s too expensive for most Australians, but we seem to be able to sell it. They’re (prices) not easing back today, it’s going to be interesting in the future.”
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