Cattle prices: Lightweight cattle, limited heifer numbers take Yea stage

Pens of lightweight cattle went for good money at Yea, while limited heifer numbers saw intense bidding for their purchase.

Lighter cattle made up the majority of the yarding at Yea today with a little over 2000 yarded.

Nutrien Ag Solutions agent Tyson Bush said while the market was still very strong, heavier coloured cattle were softer than other recent markets while lighter black types held solid to marginally dearer.

Max McBurney from Euroa, right, secured a large pen of 26 Angus heifers for $2350 or 638c/kg with his agent Mick Curtis from Rodwells Euroa.

Black steers weighing between 500kg to 600kg returned from 580c/kg to 620c/kg.

Lighter cattle were the highlight of the sale with cattle weighing 290kg to 350kg making around $7/kg while those weighing under 290kg making from 720/kg and up to $9/kg on odd pens.

Mimosa Glen sold 150 lightweight cattle to a top of $2100 or 714c/kg for 21 Angus at 294kg. The second pen of steers made a high of 814c/kg or $2040 for 28 at 252kg.

“There was a lot of competition from the north on those black heavy feeder cattle,” Mr Bush said.

“The 290-380kg were a touch lighter (in price) but under 290kg calves really pushed up again,” he said.

The heifer portion of the market saw heavy competition with bidders keen to source breeders.

With a very limited offering of heavy heifers, most between 350kg to 420kg made from 550c/kg to 620c/kg.

Keen bidder Max McBurney from Euroa was able to secure a large pen of 26 Angus heifers for his breeding program at $2350 or 638c/kg.

“I was after some well bred Angus ready to join in May or June,” Mr McBurney said.

Mr McBurney purchased the pen by notable local breeders Whanregawren Pastoral who offer sell at the Yea sale. They sold another 28 Angus heifers at 325kg for $2240 or 689c/kg.