PHOTO: This pen of Angus bullocks on account of GL & AM Sheen went under the Nutrien Ag hammer at today’s prime cattle sale for a top of 325c/kg, returning $2383ph.
Mortlake agents yarded 2,873 cattle at today’s prime cattle sale representing an increase of some 640 head on last week. Overall it was an excellent yarding of prime cattle covering most categories with a small tail of crossbred trade weights. The grown cattle and bullocks displayed good weight with the dairy bred manufacturing types showing freshness. The offering of cows was of exceptional quality with a good mix of beef and dairy types with the number of cows offered totalling 840 along with 1,260 grown cattle, 730 trade weights and 43 bulls. There was an additional interstate operator present along with the regular buying panel that provided an active fully firm market over most categories.
Good milk vealers gained 5 to 10c/kg driven by quality with cows gaining 5 to 8c/kg over most categories with bulls easing 20c/kg in places. Vealers were making from 295 to 352c/kg with the trade weight steers and heifers selling from 280 to 318c/kg. Grown cattle topped at 325c/kg with manufacturing steers selling up to 278c/kg.
Heavy beef cows sold from 240 to 277c/kg with the medium weights between 200 and 240c/kg. Dairy cows were generally selling form 200 to 260c/kg with brown beef bulls topping at 250c/kg.