Beef producers buoyed by prices and numbers

BLUE skies and bright sunshine was a nice change at Wangaratta Livestock Exchange for the monthly store cattle sale on Friday, with the 1465 head yarding attracting a large number of producers from across the region. Corcoran Parker director Justin Keane said prices matched the similar high prices seen over the past few months, and he expects them to continue to rise. "I thought it was a fair result... I think coming into spring (prices) could even get dearer," he said. Average prices saw 350–400kg feeder cattle fetch $5.50 to $6 per kg, 300–310kg Angus steers go for $2100 per head, and lighter 240kg steers selling for $1750 per head. One of the largest sellers at the sale was South Tallangatta farmer Connor Barton, who had 204 Angus cows sold across 20 pens, weighing an average of 580–600kg per head. Mr Barton owns around 2000 acres of land and his son MacGyver will be the eighth generation of the Barton family on the property. It was the first time he had visited the Wangaratta store sales, and it won't be his last. He said many of his four to four and a half year old Angus were joined with their third calves and he wanted to get them sold as soon as he could. "It was either sell today or calve down pretty much," he said. "I would be more than happy to come back here though, the staff have been good to us, they also fed the cattle and it's much cheaper to sell here." Mr Barton has been extremely pleased with the how the latest season is progressing and is expecting prices to continue to be favorable for producers, even if they begin a slight decline. "It's been incredible really, we're trying to cash in while the prices are still so good," he said. "Whatever they make today will be really good, might be back a bit on what they have been making but it is what it is." Mr Barton's cows topped $3680 with an overall average of $3310. "It was probably a bit better than I thought so I was more than happy," he said. Mr Barton said he may return once his weaners have matured. "I've still got a few more weaners to sell but at the end of the spring I might bring some more down here to sell," he said. Mr Keane said he expects prices to increase as we get closer to spring. "When the grass season really gets going and we get a bit more grass it'll get a little bit more dearer again," he said.

Beef producers buoyed by prices and numbers

Kings of the jungle once more, Whorouly seal gritty grand final win

It's another derby decider as Rovers overpower Saints

Whorouly’s Invincibles: Lions A grade cap off the perfect season

Wangaratta Chronicle, Friday, 11 September, 2026

Most popular stories

Kings of the jungle once more, Whorouly seal gritty grand final win

It's another derby decider as Rovers overpower Saints

Whorouly’s Invincibles: Lions A grade cap off the perfect season

Wangaratta Chronicle, Friday, 11 September, 2026