Steers meet the market at Gundagai

Vendor-bred cattle bucked the trend at Gundagai today, with steers making more than 400c/kg. See how it unfolded.

After a week of lacklustre cattle markets, prices at Gundagai in southern NSW bucked the trend, with up to 30 per cent of steers making more than 400c/kg.

Livestock agents yarded and sold 2100 steers and heifers from local vendors, and Victorian and Riverina orders dominated the buying support.

The mood was subdued before the sale with vendors concerned they may see flow-on effects from tougher selling conditions at Wagga Wagga and Wodonga this week.

However, a full gallery of buyers and solid orders from restockers helped to paint a picture of optimism.

Alison, Brett and their daughter Emma Faulder of Amarina Angus at Gundagai sold 104 Angus steers and heifers. They were pleased with the prices overall. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

Early in the selling, vendor M Bower of Gundagai sold 17 Angus steers, 12 to 14 months, weighing 493 kilograms for $2100, which equated to 425c/kg.

Elders Gundagai livestock agent Jake Smith said Gundagai had traditionally earned a reputation as a restocker market for northern NSW buyers.

However, widespread confidence came from throughout the southern Riverina and across the border into Victoria this year.

“We had a few buyers come up from the south that took home volumes of cattle,” Mr Smith said.

“This market, for the steers, has shown that it was about 30c to 40c/kg above markets in recent weeks.”

The forecast of imminent rain also helped fuel confidence, and the fact that many of the cattle were vendor-bred, adding to the quality of the offering.

Buyers were in force, and some of the top pens of steers had six buyers competing, with auctioneers at times taking a flurry of bids.

The heifer portion of the yarding didn’t keep pace with the steers, with vendors receiving less than 400c/kg.

However, there were orders for heifers to return to the paddock to join.

Leigh McEvoy of Corcoran and Parker at Wodonga was a dominant force at Gundagai, securing steers and heifers for Victorian restockers.

Longtime Gundagai vendors, the Faulder family of Amarina Angus, offered 104 steers and heifers and were pleased with how they sold.

Their pen of 33 Angus steers, 334kg, eight to 10 months, returned $1285 and bought by Leigh McEvoy of Corcoran and Parker at Wodonga.

After the sale, Brett Faulder said he was happy with how the cattle sold. He said the steers and heifers had made more than initially expected.

“They did a little bit better than we were anticipating,” he said.

“There was a lot of competition on the steers today.”

Ryan Burden of Nutrien Narrandera secured 50 255kg Angus steers for $1050 and said the Gundagai market was trending dearer.

Buyer Ryan Burden of Nutrien Narrandera, in southern NSW, bought 50 Angus steers weighing 255kg for $1050 or 411c/kg.

Mr Burden said the market was dearer than he was expecting.

“The market was strong today,” he said.

Some of the results included:

– Mundarlo Pty Ltd, from Mundarlo, sold 62 Angus steers, eight to nine months, weighing 281kg for $1210, equating to 430c/kg;

– Hillsboro Pty Ltd, Gundagai, sold 41 Angus-composite steers, nine to 10 months, weighing 320kg and carrying Teys Grassland accreditation for $1350 or 421c/kg;

– CG and PA Watman of Gundagai sold 17 Angus steers, 12 to 13 months, weighing 375kg for $1330 or 354c/kg; and

– RM and JA McMahon sold 28 Angus steers, 9 to 11 months, weighing 316 kilograms for $1315 or 416c/kg.

In the heifer portion, the Faulder family of Amarina Angus sold 24 heifers, 257kg, eight to 10 months for $760 or 296c/kg.

A and K Graham of Gundagai sold 13 Angus heifers, eight to nine months, 266kg for $700 (263c/kg) while MK and LP Kingwill sold 17 Angus heifers, five to six months, 272kg for $710 (261c/kg).