Sharp drop in Pakenham yarding but prices hold firm

Agents yarded 1700 cattle, well down on previous sales.

David Setches, Alex Scott and Staff, said while fewer northern buyers, due to coronavirus were at Pakenham, the sale was still very strong.

"It was a very feedlot driven market, again," Mr Setches said.

"They were swooping on all those heavier 450-500kg plus steers.

"I thought this market was probably fully firm to dearer than those in the last month."

Weaner steers, weighing around 350kilograms, made 440c/kg, with lighter 290kg cattle fetching 480c/kg.

Steers averaging 200-260kg made up to 500c/kg, while heavier stock, between 400-500c/kg, were sold for up to 430c/kg. Most fell in a range between 415-430c/kg.

The best Angus heifers sold in a range from 375c/kg to 400c/kg, while Herefords, weighing about 400kg, went for 380c/kg.

Lightweight heifers sold for between $900-$1050.

Feedlots were again active, with Teys Australia, JBS, Hopkins River and Elders Deniliquin prominent.

"There were less cattle, and just to get a load you had to step in and put your best foot forward," Mr Setches said.

There was more agent support, at the sale, with another month of the worst winter conditions, to get through.

"Just to get a load, you had to step in and put your best foot forward," he said.

Many lines of cattle, which would normally be sold in the spring store sales, had gone early.

"People are wondering where they will find those lines of cattle."

Matthew Wilson, Elders, said Nutrien, Euroa, was active, while Campbell Ross stepped in to buy for Ray White, Albury.

"A lot of cattle have gone north, it's too wet and cold down here, and there is not a lot of feed about," Mr Wilson said.

He agreed it was a strong market.

Jarrod Bennetts, Everitt, Seeley & Bennetts, said for a winter yarding, the stock had exceptional quality.

"I think it's still a case of these cattle being sold that probably wouldn't be sold now, due to how strong the market is," Mr Bennetts said.

He said grown steers would have been fully firm on a fortnight ago.

"There werent a great deal of runs of weaner cattle, so most of the yarding was between 14-16 months and varied in weight," he said.

'But the quality was fairly consistent, throughout."

"Your weaner cattle sold very well, the steer portion was firm, to slightly dearer, than a fortnight ago."

Weaner heifers could have been $50-100 a head dearer.

RW & PE Wuchatsch, Nar Nar Goon, sold three lots of Banquet-blood steers.

The first pen of 15, averaging 468kg, sold for $1920, or 410c/kg, the 19 seconds, 432kg, sold for $1860, or 430c/kg and the thirds, 15, 417kg, went for $1730, or 414c/kg.

K Anderson, The Avenues, sold 21 Angus steers, 376kg, for $1620, or 430c/kg.

Pepper Hill sold 25 Fernlea-blood Angus steers, 9-10months old, 290kg, for $1365, or 470c/kg.

A second pen of 20 steers, 261kg, sold for $1290, or 494c/kg.

SD & R Jones sold 10 Hereford heifers, 429kg, for $1600, or 373c/kg.

K Harper sold 14 Angus steers, 579kg, for $2250, or 388c/kg.

L Christian sold 18 Angus and Black Baldy steers, 567kg, for $2170, or 382c/kg.

Husky Pty Ltd sold eight Angus steers, 548kg, for $2010, or 366/kg.

B&V Trewin sold two heifers, 485kg, for $1830, or 377c/kg.

Have you signed up to Stock & Land's daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to Victorian agriculture.