Another 8-10c/kg lift for feeder cattle prices a highlight at Pakenham

Numbers lifted and prices steadied at Pakenham’s store sale last week. But there were plenty of faces in the crowd checking out the action.

Feeder cattle were the highlight of Pakenham’s store sale last week in a market which was rated as steady on recent sales.

The market was swelled by extra numbers and that kept a lid on most prices, though feeder steers were judged to be 8-10c/kg dearer than the sale a fortnight ago.

Nutrien Delaney Livestock manager Anthony Delaney said the lift in feeder prices was on top of an even bigger rise at the previous sale, and reflected the interest in yearling and heavier cattle.

Auctioneer Anthony Delaney. Pictures: Zoe Phillips

“We had all the usual feedlotters here and that’s why we saw the lift in the older and feeder types,” Mr Delaney said.

He quoted steers weighing 400kg and more made 390-420c/kg.

In contrast, there was no rise in prices for weaners, though Mr Delaney said the returns for these were still good.

He said the top weaner steer calves sold between $1400 and $1500 while the top heifer weaners were slightly cheaper at $1300-$1400.

The next weight bracket down, from 300-350kg, saw steer weaners make $1300-$1500, to work at close to 500c/kg in places and heifers “with weight” also sold well, Mr Delaney said.

L-R Brian Higgins and son Michael with farm manager Warwick Richardson from Glenmaggie selling 150-plus head.

Where the market became sticky was for the light calves under 200kg, where competition was limited.

“We saw little heifers weighing 200-250kg making $800-$1000, which is where the market has been in the past couple of weeks,” he said.

Warren Bailey and daughter Charlotte from Doreen, selling 17 Angus cattle.

Mr Delaney said any potential price increases were capped by the slow start to the autumn in the local district but also prime prices which had not risen.

“When you have lower prime prices, people who can hold cattle will do that, so it means they are not out there restocking,” he said.
“It was a good sale all around really given there is not a lot of local competition at the moment so to see the prices hold on and get better in places is a good result given what is happening.”

Jeremy Anderson from Trafalgar.

Trafalgar cattle producer Jeremy Bailey bought heifers at the sale and said prices for grown steers were strong but he watched as crossbred cattle were discounted.
But he said he was still holding steers he had bought back in September until this spring, after paying $1550 for 280kg cattle.
“Everyone has bought cattle when the price is dear, and the only way to get your money back and make a bit is to hold them longer,” he said.

Coles national livestock manager beef and lamb Stephen Rennie and Coles livestock buyer Matt Castricum.

Georgia Crugnale from Cockatoo and 8 week-old Gabby.