Gallery: Steer demand overwhelms heifer bids

It was a tale of mixed fortunes for steers and heifers at the Wodonga market. See all the pictures as the market unfolded.

Optimistic restockers, spurred on by recent rain, jostled with commission buyers to secure the top lines of steers at Wodonga.

It was a tale of two markets, with significant numbers of people lining the rails to place bids on well-bred steers only to see the bidding fade away during the sale of heifers.

A total of 1190 cattle went under the hammer, and the best steers were shy of 400c/kg to top at 398c/kg.

Commission buyer Graeme Ward of Albury said it was a buyer’s market for heifers, with the females selling to cheaper demand.

He said there was active competition on the steers. He secured 100 steers and heifers during the sale.

Steers weighing 200kg to 280kg sold from 134c/kg to 376c/kg, while those weighing 280kg to 330kg made 205c/kg to 385c/kg.

Steers from 330kg sold across a significant variance to make 130c/kg to 373c/kg.

Heavy steers, 400kg to 500kg, made 151c/kg to 340c/kg.

In the heifer section, females weighing 200kg to 280kg made from 253c/kg to 333c/kg.

Those weighing 280kg to 330kg sold from 163c/kg to 282c/kg.

In the 330kg to 400kg weight range, females sold from 156c/kg to 282c/kg.

Pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows weighing 500kg to 600kg sold from 226c/kg to 233c/kg.

PTIC heifers, 330kg to 400kg, averaged 177c/kg, and those weighing 400kg to 500kg averaged 210c/kg.

Liz White of Signal Hill at Gunning was among the purchasers at Wodonga.

Despite the market fluctuations, vendors were rewarded for quality.

Tom Norman of Stretton at Rutherglen sold 120 steers and heifers, mostly black baldies, and was pleased with the results.

His EU-accredited 10 to 12-month steers weighing 298kg made $1145 (384c/kg).

“I’m happy with what they made today – it was about what we were expecting,” Mr Norman said.

Gerard Unthank of Brian Unthank Rural, Albury, said there were some glimmers of hope across the market, and steer prices were firmer than in previous sales.

Some of the cattle on offer at Wodonga store cattle sale where prices were judged up to $100 dearer in places. Yet heifers trended cheaper.

He said the fact there was a bigger crowd of buyers at the start of the sale, compared to recent markets, meant there was a degree of optimism.

Some of the representative sales included:

– L and C Glass, 10 Angus steers, 320kg, for $1090 (340c/kg);

– GG Dale and PG McGowan, Angus steers weighing 487kg for $1520 (312c/kg);

– Mount Elliott Grazing, seven Angus steers, Llandarlo genetics, weighing 450kg for $1320 (293c/kg).

In the weaner steer section, some key sales included:

– G and G Williamson sold 10 Angus steers, 9 to 10 months, 335kg for $1250 (373c/kg);

– GL and GL Fisher of Browns Plains sold 9 to 10-month Angus, 353kg, for $1280 (362c/kg);

– Wayne Kreutzberger sold 14 Hereford heifers, 395kg, for $1110 (281c/kg)

– The Tyrrell Family Trust of Albury, sold 15 Angus females, 8 to 10 months, weighing 298kg for $750 (251c/kg).

– MJW Trust sold 7 Charolais-cross heifers, 624kg, for $1640 (262c/kg).

Cattle were up to $100 dearer at the Wodonga store cattle sale as confidence in the season locally grows yet there were tougher market signals for heifers.

Gerard Unthank from Brian Unthank Rodwells said the Wodonga market was stronger by $100 in most places due to seasonal optimism.

Selling action at the Wodonga store cattle sale which was judged up to $100 dearer on some lines of steers.

Wakool buyer Matt Pattison and daughter Zali, 4, planning to buy heifers at the Wodonga store cattle sale.

Commission buyer Graeme Ward secured a mix of 100 steers and heifers at Wodonga. He said steers were dearer and heifers trended cheaper compared to recent markets.

Some of the cattle on offer at Wodonga store cattle sale where prices were judged up to $100 dearer in places. Yet heifers trended cheaper.