Wodonga: why quality was the difference in big yarding

Big lines of well bred cattle kept prices solid at Wodonga’s store cattle market, with some making more than 500c/kg.

Feature lines of well bred cattle kept rates solid at the Wodonga store cattle sale today despite a big yarding of almost 4000 cattle.

While there was no surge in values, most vendors were pleased the market did not slip under the weight of numbers and the softening demand seen at other centres recently.

Feeder steers were keenly sought again after a similar trend in markets in the past couple of weeks, but there appeared to be more restocker interest as more rain across the past week boosted confidence about the season.

Elders Albury auctioneer Harry Cozens said the market had held up better than expected and recent rain had not hurt.

Action at the Wodonga store cattle sale.

“I feel like that now many producers have some feed and they’ve had some rain that they can handle cattle better, and can buy now knowing they can turn them over and sell in spring,” Mr Cozens said.

The market was again dominated by drafts of Angus steers which mostly solid from 400-450c/kg regardless of weight.

There were exceptions, including the big draft of spring-drop weaners sold by Peter Richards of Brookville Angus at Swifts Creek.

The big run of August-September-drop weaners topped at $1235 (241kg, 512c/kg) for a pen of 23, with the next run of 87 at 227kg making $1195 (526c/kg); the next 120 weighing 213kg selling for $1136 (533c/kg); the next 99 weighing 195kg making $1020 (523c/kg) while the final 64 at 172kg sold for $870 or 506c/kg.

Mr Richards said the calves, which were sold under the slogan of “mountain bred, grass fed”, said buyers would make money from the steers.

“We had buyers from last year tell us the cattle put on 2kg/head/day for them in the spring so they should do well,” Mr Richards said.

Volume buyer of the Brookville Angus steers was Bo Helwig from Corcoran Parker at Wodonga, who said he put together about 400 from the draft at an average weight of 210kg and an average price of $1082.

“These cattle are all frame – if we sell in the spring at 400kg and the feeder price gets as slow as 300c/kg, which it won’t, then we will still have made money, so it’s all up for these cattle,” Mr Helwig said.

Lachie Heywood from DKF Heywood and sons at Everton, sold 295 Angus steers and heifers at the Wodonga store cattle sale to a top of $1830 with all steers making 400-437c/kg.

There was another big offering of nearly 300 Angus steers and heifers from DKF Heywood from Everton, with their steers topping at $1830 (400c/kg) with the balance making 410-437c/kg for lines weighing from 336-406kg.

Off the Angus cattle, most steers sold from 350-390c/kg.

The top of the heifer offering sold for $1660, paid for a pen of eight Angus sold by M Vagg Pastoral, with the 505kg Angus returning 329c/kg.

Heifers sold from 320-370c/kg for much of the run, with occasional sales nearing and breaking the 400c/kg mark.