Prices for pregnant cows were $130-$180 above expectations and demand was firm across all cattle classes at the Warrnambool January store and female cattle sale.
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The sale on Friday yarded 1021 cattle with the best grown steers, weighing up to 531kgs, making between 272-275 cents a kilogram.
Phil Bohan, from the Warrnambool Stock Agents Association, said the best weighed heifers made to 253c/kg and traded from 230-248c/kg. The best heifers weighed about 520kgs.
In the open auction, Angus steers made good prices, selling to $930.
In the feature female sale, Peter Moloney of Terang fetched a top price of $1680 for pregnancy tested in calf (PTIC) Angus heifers with the offering averaging $1580.
Mature aged PTIC Angus cows, set for autumn calving, sold from $1420-$1600.
Poll Hereford mixed aged cows set for autumn calving sold for $1260-$1520. Good quality Angus cows with calves at foot sold for $1430 a unit.
Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Kieran Johnstone said there was a lot of local support for the sale along with some buyers from South Australia. Many of the buyers for PTIC heifers were repeat buyers.
The sale included the dispersal of a few herds.
The high temperatures reached on Thursday led some vendors not to offer cattle but the drop in temperatures on Friday still enabled a good offering, he said.
Among the dispersal sales that formed part of Friday’s sale was that by former Warrnambool stock agent Noel Saffin who sold 44 Poll and Hereford cows after selling his “Tobruk” property at Tarrone.
The cows were part of the outcome of 22 years of breeding up his herd and “a brilliant year” with the seasons that had put his farm in good shape.
Most of the pregnant cows weighed more than 600 kgs and the top pen made $1520.
Also selling off his herd was Ray Chislett of Allansford who was dispersing his herd after selling his “Dunleath Park” property.
He sold 28 16-month-old Angus steers, weighing up to 527 kgs, and was happy with the 271c/kg they fetched.
He usually grows out weaners to about 700kgs before selling them.
However since his property had been sold he was offloading cattle under that weight and was pleased he didn’t suffer the price “haircut” he feared.
