Small yarding fails to dampen Wodonga’s high prices

A yarding of less than 700 cattle was up for grabs at Wodonga as local restockers tried to build their numbers ahead of spring. See the full report.

NVLX cattle sale at Barnawartha North. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Promising rain and the upcoming spring has boosted local restockers’ sentiments at Wodonga, as a smaller yarding fetches high prices.

Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange agents yarded 675 cattle on Thursday morning, including 333 steers, which sold to $2060 and averaging $1109; 307 heifers topping $1790 with an average price of $938; and 10 PTIC cows topping $1440.

Meanwhile, eight stags fetched $1100, four cow and calf outfits made $1720 and seven bulls topped $820.

Peter Ruaro Livestock and Property director Peter Ruaro said the cattle sold mostly to local restockers, with an annual draft of Simmental calves headed to feedlot orders.

Wodonga farmer Ian McGaffin, of Castle Downs, sold eight Simmental steers weighing 295kg for $1480 or 501c/kg, while eight heifers at 277kg fetched $1240 or 447c/kg.

“We’ve much reduced back to not even 700 cattle, and it was a fairly plain cattle. The best pen of black steers, 433kg, made $2060, which was about 476c/kg,” Mr Ruaro said.

“The little weaners were pretty consistent with what’s been happening in the past week.”

Jenabank, Euroa, sold 20 Angus steers, 334kg, for $1660 or 497c/kg.

Mr Ruaro said the significant sell-off period ahead of winter and a changing weather pattern led to the smaller yarding.

“If you don’t secure a few now with the reduced numbers it’s hard to see where they’ll come from,” he said.

“We’re on the edge of hopefully a good spring and the fat market has been going our way as well, there’s been a kick in that which underpins it as well.”

Corcoran Parker director Justin Keane said prices were “very good”, as one pen of black steers weighing 220kg fetched 560c/kg. He said there were more buyers than the past 4-6 weeks, and further rain boosted confidence.

“There wouldn’t be a black steer that didn’t make 500c/kg,” he said.

“Given we sold a lot of weaners early because of the season, people are starting to think about buying some.”