Feedlots chase heavy store cattle, as pens head into Queensland at Yea

Store cattle sales are still facing higher yarding numbers than usual due to farmers offloading stock, as pens at Yea headed to Queensland.

Livestock agents yarded 2884 cattle at Yea on Friday.

Feedlots are chasing heavier cattle at Yea this week, while lighter cattle are headed far beyond Victoria to available feed.

Yea saleyards had 2884 cattle under the hammer on Friday, with steers topping the May store sale at $2570 a head and averaging $1193.

There were 1228 heifers with a top price of $1800 and average of $1478; 52 cows topped $1750 and averaged $1532; and 35 cows and calves topped $1800 and averaged $1478. Two bulls made $1300, two bullocks fetched $2200 and eight stags topped $1380.

Nutrien Yea branch manager Tyson Bush. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Nutrien Yea branch manager Tyson Bush said there were more cattle yarded than expected due to farmers offloading ahead of winter.

“Hay is not around, feed is too dear or not around. We’re into winter now and we’ve had a couple of frosts over here, and we haven’t had any rain,” he said.

“The cattle are quite hairy in condition, they’re quite woody, they’re all leg. Those are the lighter, autumn-drop calves.

“The heavier cattle sold very well, the feeders chased them and when you came onto the lighter types of calves, there was a 300-400km radius from here that can’t handle cattle, so they need to go outside that.”

He said cattle were headed to northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, with a consignment headed to Longreach, while buyers included Duncan Brown, Campbell Ross, Baw Baw Livestock and Elders Yea.

Siblings Jax, William, Laila and Chad Dunlop visiting the cattle saleyards for the first time. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Mr Bush said Nutrien had a projected 4000 cattle in next week’s autumn drop sale, while Elders had 4500 head the following week in its feature sale.

“I think when we get a rain and we get a break, anyone that has held on will be rewarded.”

Nutrien Colac livestock agent Phil Howard with Maree and Con DeGroot, of Springbank from Narbethong. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Maree and Con DeGroot, of Springbank from Narbethong, sold their yearlings at Yea annually, and had 55 mixed sex Angus, including 27 steers and 28 heifers. They run 70 breeders, with another 16 cows in calf to take through winter.

Their offering included 20 Angus steers, 11-13 months, Riddelvue blood, weighing 477kg, for $2050 or 429c/kg, and 20 Angus heifers, Riddelvue blood, 11-13 months, 440kg, for $1700 or 386c/kg.

They said they were “very pleased” with the results.

“They have been fed silage every day until it runs out their ears,” Ms DeGroot said.

“Last year we had 70 in, we’ve had less this year.”

Jenny and Paul Leishman, Pryors Paddock, sold cattle at the Yea May store sale. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Jenny and Paul Leishman, from Pryors Paddock, sold 28 Angus cattle, including 13 heifers.

Their top pen of steers, weighing 344kg, sold for $1350 or 392c/kg.

“Normally I’d keep these until at least another spring,” Mr Leishman said.

“I’ve got 32 cows with calves at foot that I have to feed. We finished calving two weeks ago.”