Prices at Mortlake and Ballarat have increased by $150

Cattle prices improved by $100 to $150 at Ballarat and Mortlake this week. See the full market analysis here.

Price gains of $100 to $150 per head have been recorded at Victoria’s two big store cattle sales this week, including at Ballarat today, where extra feedlot and commission buyers helped drag the market out of its recent doldrums.

The lead of the grown Angus steers sold to $2210 at Ballarat on a weight of 571kg or 387c/kg liveweight, while Angus yearlings reached $1980 for 470kg to work out at 421c.

It came as bidding intensified across all categories compared to last month, the stronger tempo driven by the return of multiple feedlot orders and renewed restocker confidence from timely autumn rains.

There was a full rooster of feedlot buyers at both Ballarat and Mortlake, including JBS Swift, Thomas Foods International, Teys Australia – with Warrnambool processor Midfield also making a rare appearance at Ballarat to purchase heavier cattle to go onto grain at a SA feedlot.

Feedlot competition intensified for heavy steers at Ballarat today, with JBS Swift, Teys Australia and Thomas Foods International all competing alongside other feedlot orders. Even Warrnambool processor Midfields made a rare appearance and purchased steers that were being sent to a feed yard in South Australia. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Commission buyers were also out in force and attempting to fill orders for other lesser-name feed yards and holding local and interstate orders for backgrounders and store buyers.

Agent Peter MacConachie, Charles Stewart & Co, attended both Ballarat and Mortlake sales and said there had been a positive shift in terms of demand for cattle.

“There was just no confidence at all in the job a month ago, and now export orders are coming back in, and feedlots are freeing-up, add in the rain, and everything seems to be improving,’’ he said.

TB White agent Gerard White said it was the most feedlot orders they had seen at Ballarat for some time.

“There was more intensify (from the buying rail) for sure, and grown steers and the top of the weaner cattle were $100 to $150 better than last month,’’ he said.

The difference in market sentiment was stark for neighbours Kevin Stephens and Ian Shaw, who both run Angus cattle at Mt Prospect. Last month at Ballarat, Ian said he sold Angus steers that weighed 443kg for $1660 or 374c/kg. At today’s sale, Mr Stephens had the lead pen of yearlings, which weighed 470kg and made $1980 or 421c/kg.

“This sale has been a lot better than I was anticipating,’’ Kevin said

Part of the price rise at Ballarat today was attributed to improved quality, with agents remarking it was an unusually good yarding for April in terms of breed quality and weight. This was linked to farmers holding cattle back in February and March when store sales tanked – among them the Stephens family.

Kevin said their $1980 steers were all March drop and traditionally would have been sold in the feature February markets.

“We weaned them in January, and then it got dry, and the market deteriorated, so we kept them and fed them till we got the break,’’ he said.

“We have put a few dollars worth of feed into them, but what can you do – I’m just glad the market has improved.’’

Neighbours Kevin Stephens and Ian Shaw, Mt Prospect, noticed a stark improvement in cattle prices at Ballarat today compared to a month ago. Mr Stephens received $1980 for Angus yearling steers that weighed 470kg today. In March, Mr Shaw sold Angus steers at 443kg for $1660. Selling agents quoted today’s market as $100 to $150 dearer. Picture: Jenny Kelly

As a guide, the better quality lines of black steers made from 380c to 450/kg lwt at Ballarat, with the bulk of the younger types under 480kg trending over 400c.

This mirrors the results reported out of Mortlake yesterday, which buyers said also had an impressive run of nearly 5000 cattle, including some feature lines of young steers that were well supported.

The National Livestock Reporting Service recorded the following results for Mortlake:

•1459 yearling and grown steers, average weight 415kg, averaged 408.7c/kg to return $1697 per head;

•1115 weaner steers averaging 289kg averaged 434c/kg or $1251 per head;

•618 yearling and grown heifers, average weight 421kg, averaged 400c or $1684; and

•406 weaner heifers, 298kg, averaged 392c or $1173.

The heifer market was also buoyant at Ballarat today, with some vendors like Gerard Belleville, Woodlands at Romsey, receiving more in c/kg terms for heifer calves compared to steers.

Woodlands had 93 March/April drop Angus steers in Ballarat and 49 heifers. The steers sold to $1620 for 362kg, representing 447c. The two lots of heifers made $1340 for 296kg and $1330 for 284kg, the latter pen working out to 468c. Both lines were purchased by a commission buyer and were heading north to be grown out for joining.