Euroa cattle market: Mixed bag of results

Livestock agents described today’s Euroa cattle sale as ‘bleak’ in places, but there was some optimism. See how it unfolded.

It was a mixed bag of results at the Euroa cattle sale today, with some encouraging signals throughout the yarding of 700.

Some pens of lightweight Angus steers were quoted as dearer after they tracked in a range of 370 cents a kilogram to 402c/kg, putting the 250-275kg calves in a range of $990 to $1030.

Auctioneer Anthony Delaney, Nutrien, said while the market was still bleak enough in places, there was perhaps some confidence building after sustained wet weather.

“There is not the quality of last month (which was a feature yarding of weaners), but the few calves here today were absorbed very well by local and northeast restockers who have now seen plenty of rain’’ he said.

“We are now only weeks away from spring, and some people are thinking that it could get dearer down the track (as the grass starts to get away).’’

Ironically considering the panic about El Nino and dry winter, some agents said it was now too wet across parts of the south and northeast for farmers to take on cattle due to the risk of paddocks being damaged.

A few pens of decent quality heifers with age and size also sold reasonably well at up to $1290 for 11 Angus weighing 395kg from AG Ham and JW Nield. They worked out at 326c/kg liveweight.

But that was the extent of the positive spin that could be put on the sale, with older steers and plainer cattle still struggling at price levels similar to, or sometimes cheaper than, recent markets.

The opening pen of six heavy Angus steers from vendor Ron Perry made $1500 on a weight of 487kg or 300c/kg lwt.

This sale was missing feedlot support, which wasn’t viable on the low numbers of suitable cattle yarded.

North East farmer Michael Hourigan, Millewa near Wangaratta, bought a line of 50 light Angus steer calves paying to $1030 at Euroa today. They were to replace a load of feeder steers that he sold last week for an average of $1715. He is pictured with agent Hamish Falla, Nutrien Wangaratta. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Local farmer Wayne Garrard, from Locksley, sold five 16-month-old black baldy steers weighing 412kg for $1460 (354c/kg) – less than they had cost last year when purchased as lightweight calves.

He said they had cost $1850 at 250kg, as he joined the ranks of other traders opting to get out of high-priced steers and come back in again. Later in the sale, he paid $760 for replacement steers weighing 211kg.

“I think I’m in a better position (to make a profit this trade),’’ he said: “We are getting plenty of rain, dams are full, and even if El Nino does come in, we should be pretty right for a while.’’

The best result along the opening laneway of steers was $1500 for 21 Angus yearlings from Ham and Nield. Listed as August-September drop, they weighed 417kg working out to 359c/kg lwt.

In the mixed lots, prices varied with breed and quality. There were Hereford steers at 326kg, which sold for $980 or 300c/kg; five Speckle Park at 269kg for $690 or 256c/kg. A pen of joined Speckle Park-cross cows, not PTIC but listed as due to start calving in August, made $1110 on a weight of 529kg.

In the heifers, there were Angus at 289kg, which sold for $750 or 259c/kg, while a line of young black females showing frame size but in very poor condition sold for $400 and $370 on weights of 273kg and 217kg.