Store cattle prices held up at Hamilton as feedlots prove strong

A major commission buyer, processors and domestic feedlots pushed up rates for steers at the Western District sale today. See the full sale recap.

Old Ripponhurst Hereford heifers sold to strong demand at Hamilton's store cattle sale.

No rain, little feed and wavering confidence in the Hamilton district produced a wary bunch of vendors at the regional livestock exchange’s yarding of 1600 cattle on Thursday.

And while nerves were frayed coming into the auction, most fears were put to rest when all the major buyers rolled into the carpark and didn’t hold back when bidding kicked off.

Feedlots drove strong demand for steers, pushing prices to 330-360c/kg on feeder Angus steers.

Teys, Thomas Foods International, Nutrien Warrnambool, Gippsland bidders as well as local Green Triangle region buyers produced a wide range of demand on the heavy types.

Dan Delahunty, with son Beau, 3, from Colac, were watching the market at Hamilton to get a feel for prices. With grandfather Michael Delahunty they were considering increasing their numbers.

But again it was North East Victoria-based commission buyer Duncan Brown who put a floor across the bulk of the sale.

Volume sellers, Caroline Coggins and David Fenton, sold well-presented Angus steers, DCF Marine, from their Condah-region property.

The June-July drop weaned steers were Weeran, Chiltern Park and Granite Ridge blood and EU Accredited.

“We were very pleased with how the cattle presented after such a challenging season,” Ms Coggins said.

Bob Murrell from Heywood was looking to buy and John Cocks from Narrawong at Hamilton store cattle sale.

The opening pen of 24, 383kg Angus steers saw a flurry of at least six bidding hands go up, and the auctioneer Bernie Grant, offering one with the option, knocked 24 down at 374c/kg to Lake Mundi’s backgrounder and feedlotter Peter Cleary.

He took the run of 102 steers weighing from 315kg to 383kg for 374c/kg, which averaged $1262 a head and topped at $1432 for the pen of 24 weighing 383kg.

Mr Cleary said the weaners would be put into a specialist program, for which they ticked all the boxes.

“It was hard to know exactly how today would go, but prices were about as expected,” Mr Cleary said.

David Fenton and Caroline Coggins sold a feature line at Hamilton. They are pictured with agent Bernie Grant.

In the heavy grown steers, indicative leading prices include a pen of 16 Angus steers sold by C Astbury, weighing 499kg which made 350c/kg or $1746 to Thomas Foods International.

The next pen of 19 Angus steers offered by DA Ball, weighing 485kg made 358c/kg or $1736 to TFI.

The sale followed the trend of recent sales with buyers chasing cattle that had good weight already.

LMB auctioneer Bernie Grant said grown steers ranged from 310-362c/kg and while good Angus types sold on-par with recent sales, Hereford and coloured steers met with a lift in demand.

“They sold really well, I thought, while the blacks were on par at 340-360c/kg,” he said.

Weaner steers also sold well, but the DCF Marine offering sold to “exceptional” demand, he said.

“They are really well-bred cattle, and also one vendor could take the lot for a B Double,” he said.

Weaners lighter than 300kg were harder selling, he said, due to the low feed situation facing many producers.

Grown heifers also drew a lot of feedlot interest, Mr Grant said, with Hereford heifers in particular selling well, returning 318-320c/kg in places.

“Lighter types were hard enough to move though, as they are everywhere,” he said.

Old Ripponhurst sold 18 EU accredited Hereford heifers, 422kg, for 318c/kg or $1341.

Gippsland buyers also added some strength to the bidding.

Auctioneer Sam Savin, Nutrien, said while the secondary, light lines sold on a cheaper trend the sale benefitted from “good feedlot support with all the major buyers and domestic feedlots here”.

“On lighter lines, some locals were able to buy some to tuck away, but it is really very dry here.”

Glen Gapes, Westhills, Tarrone sold 12 “clean up” Angus steers, and said conditions towards the coast were very tough and dry.

“I am back to my core breeders,” Mr Gapes said.

Sellers Bernadette and David Ball from Gerrigerrup, with Glen Gapes from Tarrone at Hamilton cattle sale.

A pen of five of his Angus-Shorthorn steers weighing 446kg made 320c/kg, which he said was “not too bad, pretty good really”.

Bob Murrell, Heywood, just south of Hamilton, was one buyer with good paddock feed that was happy to tuck some cattle away.

Mr Murrell purchased 44 Ayrhaven Angus steers, 280kg for 364c/kg or $1019. “That was a top price for top cattle,” Mr Murrell said.

“The will go onto river country, so there is no rush and no time limit on turn-off.”