Ballarat steer sale: Weaners don’t crack 500c/kg, but market lifts

Feedlot buyers were out in force at Ballarat as the winter supply drop-off looms, while restockers remain cautious of feed shortages.

An unusual weaner and grown cattle market saw the demand for weaner calves drop as rates stayed surprisingly consistent throughout most of the Ballarat sale.

But the lack of interest from restockers was propped up by the full arsenal of feedlot buyers in attendance, which saw a market lift of $100 on recent weeks.

“I haven’t seen that many heavy hitters here operating on the same category of livestock in a long time,” Charles Stewart director Jamie McConachy said.

Thomas Food International, JBS, Hopkins River, Creek Livestock and Teys Charleton were all among the “heavy hitters” who stepped up to do the buying.

There was some serious weight in the top end of the sale, with many lots averaging from 600kg to 700kg.

The top-priced pen of the day peaked at $2570 or 370c/kg for a weighty pen that averaged nearly 700kg.

The market topper was the first pen offered, and sold by vendors CM & VJ Faulkner who put sold 10 black baldy steers.

The heavy end weighing 600kg to 700kg returned around 350c/kg, while cattle from 400kg to 500kg made around 400c/kg.

Farm manager Jim Leahy saw 59 of the Parklands Investment Management steers go under the hammer to top $1640 at the Ballarat grown and weaner steer sale. Picture: Petra Oates

Cents-per-kilogram wise, the top end of the market hovered between 430c/kg to 460c/kg, but not for the lighter types.

One exceptional pen peaked at 498c/kg or $1580 for 28 Angus weaners at 317kg sold by Parklands Investment Management.

“Normally the lighter weaner cattle shoot up in cents-per-kilogram but when we dropped into them, they dropped off because the demand wasn’t there – people are concerned about carrying them into winter,” Mr McConachy said.

“Those 400kg to 500kg cattle made up to 450c/kg in places and that rate stayed the same until the very last pen.

“It sat around the $4/kg for a long time, at least an hour for the best part of 1000 cattle.”

Elders agents field bids at the Ballarat grown and weaner steer sale. Picture: Petra Oates

The autumn and winter supply drop-off has seen the micro-market lift moderately in recent weeks, most notably at the Mortlake sale yesterday and Ballarat today.

“We think it’s probably pushed $100 up on where it was two or three weeks ago,” Mr Mr McConachy said.

“The feedlot and commission buyers are aware that the typical autumn and winter drop off is not far away when you will have to pay for money with fewer cattle on the market.”

However, the Ballarat sale notably set itself apart from Mortlake the day prior, selling a superior quality of cattle with many specially bred lines of weaners on offer.

Marty and Lou Gleeson from Carrahil at Clarendon sold a line of 69 Angus weaner steers to a top of $2000 at the Ballarat grown and weaner steer sale. Picture: Petra Oates

The Carrahil and Wolgan weaner drafts are a Ballarat weaner sale staple, which sold accordingly, achieving the top-end of the market.

Marty and Lou Gleeson’s line of 69 Angus weaners topped at $2000 or 441c/kg for their first pen of 42 at 453kg for Carrahil, while farm manager Glenn Pretty’s line of 88 Angus for Wolgan topped at $1730 or 451c/kg for 25 at 383kg.

Glenn Pretty sold a line of 88 of his renowned Wolgan Angus weaner steers to a top of $1730 or 451c/kg at the Ballarat grown and weaner steer sale. Picture: Petra Oates

While the cattle on offer were of exceptional quality, in the dry 36C degree heat of the day, it was apparent some restockers baulked at absorbing the yarding of 4400 grown and weaner cattle.

“Last year we were selling little calves at $2000 and now we’re selling big (cattle) at $2000 so many would argue there’s not much of a margin – and rightly so,” Mr McConachy said.