A strong haul of 620 steers by live exporter, Landmark International, has underpinned a better than expected result at the first annual weaner sale held at the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange (WVLX) at Mortlake.
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Friday’s sale offered 2100 steers and 600 heifers and the live export order operated on a reasonably broad range of weights that varied from 260 kilograms live up to about 350kg and included both Angus and Hereford breeds.
Across the day the shipper stumped up bids ranging from 294-326 cents a kilogram for an average buy of about 315c/kg liveweight.
While the Live Ex order was clearly the most aggressive bidder, several other eager players consigned considerable numbers west to the SA border region and north to western Riverina feedlots.
Overall steers weighing 360-450kg, averaged 304c/kg, while those 280-360kg, ave 311c/kg and heifers, 280-360kg, ave 269c/kg.
Local backgrounder competition was also supportive especially on lines of EU-accredited stock that were retained to that system.
WVLX agents president Glenn Judd said the good spread of buyers appeared happy to purchase stock in large numbers.
The market top of 326c/kg was paid for a pen of 104 of Henry and Kath Cameron’s Athlone Angus steers, 341kg, which were also judged as the best presented yard.
Mr Judd said the market overall had traded 10-12c/kg or $30-$40 a head better than agents had expected.
“The weights of the calves this year were heavier than was anticipated due to consistent rains late into the season”, Mr Judd said.
“There was also a good turnout of buyers as well as a very large viewing crowd despite the anticipated heat.”
“But fortunately WVLX has a sprinkler system in place to dampen down the cattle as the temperatures rose through the morning to 38 degrees,” Mr Judd said.
A cool change arrived as the sale was set to commence and cooled the temperatures into the mid-20’s range, he said.
Other significant sales recorded on the day included a yard of 30 Furneaux Pastoral Angus steers, 409kg, sold at 305c/kg to Ravenworth Feedlot. A pen of 31 Torbank EU-Angus steers, 416kg, sold at 313c/kg to Princes Royal Feedlot, SA, and a yard of 45 JB Howard Angus steers, 348kg, sold at 316c/kg to the Ogilvie Group.
The market for heifers, although off the pace of recent events, proved more than satisfactory as prices traded consistently from 240-280c/kg.
As a result most sales realised per head values between $580 to $830 including a 160 head consignment of Angus heifers from John and Margaret Hallyburton, Bookaar.
