Pakenham cattle sale: Prices soften for mixed yarding

A large percentage of crossbred steers in the market at Pakenham recently saw prices fall due to a lack of “quality cattle".

There was a large percentage of crossbred steers at the Pakenham yarding last week.

A sizeable yarding of 3300 cattle sold to softer rates at Pakenham last week.

Elders Pakenham livestock manager Denis Linley said bigger steers were up to a couple of hundred dollars cheaper compared to Pakenham sales prior to Christmas and last fortnight ago.

“The best lines of cattle sold firm to rates we saw two weeks ago but once you came off the top and into the heavier feeder steers they came back in price,” Mr Linley said.

Heavy feeder steers made from $2700 up to $3000 for the best of the heavier end at 550kg and up, but as the scales tipped the prices only held.

“Once the steers got over 600kg they came back a good bit in price — they weren’t making anything more than cattle at 550kg,” Mr Linley said.

“We had some make $2870 and they were 624kg and they were good steers. But the same (vendor) had a lot of them in five weeks ago and they made $3040, so they were at least $150 back in price,” he said.

With their annual feature draft selling two weeks ago, Mr Linley said this week’s draft of cattle was a “pretty ordinary yarding overall”.

“It was a pretty mixed yarding overall with a lot of crossbred cattle. That special article was sought after and it was a good bit tougher on the rest,” Mr Linley said.

Well-bred cattle at 350kg to 430kg were very highly sought after but few and far between at the yarding Mr Linely said. Those types made $2100 to $2300 and were predominantly bought up by feedlots.

Crossbred steers were far more prevalent, making from $1300 to $1600 depending on type and size.