Ballarat cattle sale: Strong numbers bring strong sums for vendors

A 4000-head yarding at Ballarat has brought large sums to vendors for the second time running, with the market keeping firm.

A large yarding of almost 4000 cattle has shown the stability of the cattle market in Ballarat as it continues to sit at the top end of prices historically.

“Not only is it dear, it’s stable,” Charles Stewart auctioneer James McConachy said of the market today, which was firm on last months sale.

The volume yarding sold well into the afternoon but maintained momentum right the way through despite starting off “sluggish” for the first few heavyweight pens.

“It was hard to get that momentum happening at the start but it quickly found its feet,” Mr McConachy said.

“The first pen of the day made around 500c/kg and by the end of the lane they were making 589c/kg … The earlier pens were about $100 cheaper,” he said.

The weaner portion of the sale almost all made over $6/kg, with many pushing over $7/kg and lighter weaners up to $8/kg, much to the delight of producers. Many weaner vendors had put forward their autumn drop calves a couple of months earlier than their usual February selling thanks to the elevated prices.

Volume seller Vin Richards from Blampied sold a total of 185 cattle to a top of $2460 at Ballarat. He is pictured with daughter Bridget and her husband Marc. Picture: Petra Oates

Volume seller Vin Richards had a great day at the sale dispersing 110 steers and 75 heifers to prices that were among the highlights market, topping at $2460 or 674c/kg for 21 Angus steers at 365kg.

The heifer portion of the Richards cattle topped at $2210 or 734c/kg for 40 Angus at 301kg. Another 18 Angus heifers at 335kg returned $2190 or 654c/kg.