THE cool finish to spring in the eastern Riverina is leading to livestock producers holding onto cattle to finish them on pasture, but 1800 cattle yarded for the regular store sale at Wodonga last Thursday met excited competition for all types.
The yarding consisted of predominately black cattle, with the odd pen of whiteface and European crosses.
It was a plainer yarding with only the odd pen in forward condition, according to Paull and Scollard director Mike Scollard, Wodonga, with the market firm to strong for the better pens.
“The steers have got to be 20 cents a kilogram dearer, particularly for the little cattle,” Mr Scollard said.
“It was a very good sale and the market has lifted maybe 30c/kg for some types on last month’s sale.”
Keen competition across the board saw local restockers competing with commission agents and producers from Gippsland, Bendigo, Cootamundra, Corryong and Finley to secure stock.
“Our season is later, with some holding onto their cattle and restockers are keen to still get stock,” Mr Scollard said.
Yearling steers sold from $1500 to $1200, with lightweight cattle selling to $720 and older steers selling from $1100 to $1445.
Yearling heifers sold from $890 to $1290, with lightweight heifers making up to $850, while cows with calves sold from $1550 to $2600.
The top pen at $2600 was paid for 10 Angus cows, second and third calvers and not station mated offered by Steve and Joan McLeish, “Trails End”, Bullioh, Victoria.
Mr McLeish thought it a “very good price.”
“And a long time coming,” he added.
“We are trying to shorten our calving period, and our cows a very quite, so it was a hard decision to make.”
Victorian producers Chris and Christine Packer, Bethanga, sold six black baldy steers weighing 433kg for $1500 and Arthur Stockwell, Corryong, sold his pen of 21 Angus steers averaging 418kg for $1500.
Other good sales included 18 Angus steers weighing 346kg sold on account Dundooga Pastoral Company, Table Top, for $1440.
The Kent family, “Yambla” Table Top, sold 19 Ireland-blood Angus steers weighing 346kg for $1370 and Doug Stevenson, Tallangatta, received $1380 for his 13 Angus steers weighing 356kg.
Heifers sold to $1290, when Chris and Christine Packer, Bethanga, offered 23 12- to 14-month-old Angus heifers weighing 379kg.
Michael Swasbrick, Eskdale, Victoria, received $1345 for 11 18-month-old Hereford/Holstein heifers weighing 380kg.
Wodonga agents Brian Unthank Rural, Paull and Scollard, Peter Ruaro Rodwells and Schubert Boers, conducted the sale.
