PRICES rose on pre-Christmas rates as northern rain breathed new life into the southern cattle market at the Wodonga new year store sales.
About 12,000 cattle were knocked down to a lively field of buyers drawn from the eastern States when the three-day Wodonga weaner and grown cattle sales were held from Wednesday to Friday last week at the Wodonga saleyards.
Restockers, lotfeeders, domestic butchers, processors, commission buyers and agents from southern Queensland, the New England, Central West, central and northern Victoria and Tasmania competed against strong local support.
Prices fluctuated throughout the three days – heifers were five to eight cents a kilogram dearer by day two, while steers remained steady, Corcoran Parker principal, Trevor Parker, Wodonga, said.
Overall, weaner steers peaked at $694 (175c/kg) for 19 Charolais/ Angus steers, aged nine to 10 months, weighing 397 kilograms.
Weaner steers weighing more than 330kg met with particularly strong demand from both restockers and lotfeeders.
Weaner heifers jumped from $575 on Wednesday to $635 (178c/kg) on Thursday for 21 Charolais/Angus heifers, aged nine to 10 months, weighing 356kg.
Processors were keen to acquire fresh heifers on Thursday and Friday, resulting in a dearer trend.
The best money paid for grown steers was $765 (140c/kg) for a line of 12 14- to 16-month-old Angus steers weighing 458kg.
Grown heifers hit a high of $596 (160c/kg) for 25 17-month-old Murray Greys weighing 372kg.
Landmark Albury agent, Craig Schubert, said it would have been tough going without the northern rain given the low pre-Christmas prices.
He said buyers were competitive on all lines, but he was especially surprised to see the heavier end of the grown steers sell so well.
“We thought they might have been the toughest cattle to move based on what we had seen pre-Christmas, but there was plenty of interest in weight-for-age,” he said.
Wodonga selling agent, Peter Ruaro, said the region had a pretty good spring and this was reflected in the cattle, which presented in good store condition.
The rain in the north meant there was a bit more money floating about than before Christmas, which was evident in the buyer presence at the sales, he said.
Paull and Scollard agent, Tim Robinson, Albury, said the market was strong through the sales, strengthening as the week progressed.
“Cattle were bred specifically for these sales; it showcases what the district has to offer,” he said.
Cattle were mainly drawn from the local area, however, agisted stock from Mudgee and Gunnedah were offered, and south-western cattle from Wilcannia, Conargo and Carrathool were also transported for the sales.
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