Last Thursday's July store sale buoyed local spirits with the 851 head yarded at Wangaratta Livestock Exchange attracting strong interest and solid prices.
Figures set up well ahead of the spring weaner sale in August with quality bred stock to be showcased and numbers still high despite recent clear outs.
Corcoran and Parker livestock agent Reiley Murtagh spoke of Thursday's yarding as wintery, with the top pen of cows and calves making $1850 each as they were lighter cows with calf at foot.
"It’s definitely stronger in the cows and calf section and there were a fair number of pre tested in calf (PTIC) cattle," Mr Murtagh told the Wangaratta Chronicle.
“They were very strong, good types, calving in the August and they topped out at $2250, with others at $2000 and $1900.
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“These prices were held up by the meat market and slaughter houses who were there to buy those heavier cows and then some were retained to go back to the paddock.
“That’s a definite increase on what we’ve been seeing and it’s fairly positive to see people lining up to buy them for breeding."
Mr Murtagh reported there weren’t many feeder steers to quote and there were only a select few that topped out at $4.77/kg and very nice black steers at 380kg.
“Lighter restocking steers weighing 300kg-370kg saw a jump, making up to $5 to $5.10/$5.20/kg," he said.
“Black steers 200-280kg made up to $5.50.
“Under 200kg made a top of $6.60/kg and when we see steers at the $6 mark, albeit for lighter cattle, it is great money and there is a fair bit of positivity in that black scene.”
Coloured steers were stronger again, with lighter animals making a tick over $5/kg, with several at $4.40/kg.
The feeder/heifer job and a select pen made $4.10 and a couple of off types $3.80/kg.
Into the lighter heifers, 300-350kg made $3.50-$3.60/kg
There were some out to $4 but a lot of them sat around $3.30-$3.80/kg.
“It’s tightening up everywhere and the meat markets are extremely strong so they’re stepping into any of those good breeding cows, even just for slaughter on a meat grid," Mr Murtagh said.
“We have had a bit of rain and it just needs to keep coming, but the positivity around the market is changing.”
The Gordon Sinclair Memorial Weaner Sale will be held on 21 August and early indications suggest there will be about 2500 head of cattle yarded.
“I’m expecting that sale to be where it is now, if not better, and anyone who will have cattle around at that time, they will perform strongly," Mr Murtagh said.
“If anyone has cattle for that spring sale they definitely should be looking at getting them up for this sale at Wangaratta.”
If the August sale realises 3000 head, Mr Murtagh said "it would be unreal", however, he said it’s probably going to look more like 2500.
He said year-in year-out the cattle that get nominated are by operators who are focused on that sale alone.
“There will be less numbers at it due to the amount of pressure that’s been on the local producer who had to sell cattle earlier," he said.
“It will be the tops of our area though.”
Forecasts suggest more rain in the next two weeks and Mr Murtagh said it’s paramount that this comes as the ground continues to soak up the water.
If that happens it’s going to be a good spring and while stocks are depleted and prices are high, judging by what's selling now, it sets up well for buyers.
“The cattle that people are buying are coming out of a tougher autumn and winter and they’re a big-framed animal so on a cents per kilo outlook, the cattle are perfect to buy," Mr Murtagh said.
“People who have grass/feed, this is the best opportunity for them.”
