Cooler temperatures was just the icing on the cake for Wangaratta’s annual premier weaner sales opening on Wednesday.
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Agents offered an “excellent yarding” of 2566 steers with a large crowd at the Shanley Street selling centre.
Most of the buying came from local and district producers with any feedlot competition being determined by price and breed.
“Often in Wangaratta you might get a few more buyers from further south which probably weren’t there today as much … that’s probably to do with the season to a degree,” Elders livestock manager Matt Tinkler said.
“There was very good local demand and local support and some outstandingly well-bred local cattle as well.”
Mr Tinkler was impressed with how the weaned calves presented.
Most cattle weighed up to 50 kilograms heavier than 2017. This fact aided an average price of $1017.15 for the whole yard.
Landmark Wangaratta auctioneer Murray Bennett said prices on Wednesday reflected the market and compared favourably with recent weaner sales.
“The day was solid in a softer market compared to what we’ve seen in the previous 12 months, and the previous weaner sale,” Mr Bennett said of the feature sale opener, “but we all knew that was going to be the case with where the fat market is.
“Wang was on par, maybe a bit softer in places but definitely overall it was a solid market.”
Buyers were mindful of the current pricing of fat cattle, and most of the British breeds sold between 290 and 320c/kg lwt.
Demand did improve when weights receded while competition was better for many fuller pens, which saw some of the small lots sell below 285c/kg.
“It was an excellent yarding of cattle … from a pricing point of view I thought the market was very solid without being over the top,” Mr Tinkler said.
