Reward for effort: Vendors happy with Ballarat prices

Vendors continued to sell earlier than usual at Ballarat’s store cattle sale, but they were “well paid” for it. See the full results, photos and video here.

Vendors selling autumn drop calves earlier than usual were rewarded for their efforts at the Ballarat store cattle sale on Friday.

Livestock agents yarded about 4400-head of cattle at the sale, where prices were dearer in comparison with last month.

Nutrien Ballarat livestock manager Xavier Shanahan said everything had an increased price and steers moved well, with heavy cattle about $150 a head dearer.

“There have been runs here of our autumn drop calves that might usually be held until February for our feature sales, but conditions are that tight they’ve needed to sell now,” Mr Shanahan said.

“They’ve been well paid, a lot of $1100-1300 for autumn drop calves that aren’t as heavy as usual.”

He said buyers hailed from Teys’ Charlton, Midfield at Colac, south Gippsland, parts of New South Wales, and commission buyer Campbell Ross.

Nutrien Ballarat livestock manager Xavier Shanahan said there were about 4400-head of cattle at CVLX on Friday. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

A feature run of weaner steers was sold by Ballark, with their first pen of 12 steers, weighing 243kg, selling for $1160 or 477c/kg, and their second pen of 22 steers, weighing 312kg, selling for $1380 or 442c/kg.

Brett Orr, from Buckley, sold 22 steers and two cows and calf outfits. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Brett Orr, from Buckley, sold 22 steers and two cows and calf outfits. His first pen of 12 Angus steers, 487kg, made $1880 or 386c/kg, and his second pen of 10 steers, 458kg, made $1760 and 384c/kg.

“It’s been very tough here for grass, the ‘green drought’ we’re calling it. I’m surprised on the weight for the feed we’ve had,” he said.

“We normally wait for the Nutrien big sale in March, but we couldn’t hold cattle that long. I still have 40 left to keep until February.”

Lyn Conlon, from Dixie, sold 24 mixed-sex Angus cattle, including 16 steers, Banquet blood, 317kg, for $1300 or 410c/kg.

“We’ve been up and down, like everybody. We normally sell at the Mortlake sale in December,” she said.

Lyn Conlon, from Dixie, sold 16 steers and eight heifers at CVLX on Friday. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Perth-based veterinary students Phoebe Conroy and Ella Major are pictured with Mick Nolan, from Napoleons. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Mick Nolan, from Napoleons, sold 47 mixed-sex Angus cattle, including 27 steers.

He said he was very happy with the prices.

“We’ve had a tough year at home, it’s been dry and patchy,” he said.

“Where these cattle were, they were about 40km from our home, and they’ve done better out there than they have at home.”

He said they normally targeted the first week of December.

Vin Richards, from Blanpied, sold 108 steers and 59 heifers at CVLX on Friday. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Vin Richards, from Blanpied, sold 108 steers and 59 heifers at Ballarat including 25 steers, 320kg, for $1370 or 428c/kg, 40 steers, 305kg, for $1350 or 442c/kg, 30 steers, 280kg, for $1290 or 460c/kg, and 13 steers, 243kg, for $1160 or 477c/kg.

He has sold in Ballarat’s December sale for the past seven years.

“We’re battling at home. We feed a lot of hay that has got them through, but it’s been a struggle really,” he said.

“I feel [February] is a long time to keep them because I’m on limited ground, I lease a fair bit. I have 200 cows to start calving at the end of February so I need to keep feed for them.”