THERE were nearly 5000 cattle yarded at Mortlake on Thursday, taking the month’s total store cattle to just short of 7000 head - overall it was another very good quality yarding of cattle presented.
Grown steers sold extremely well, mostly similar to last fortnight’s sale with some being 10-12 cents per kilogram stronger.
One highlight was some EU accredited Angus steers on account of JR & JM Murphy that Nutrien Ag sold for 624c/kg - with a weight of 508 kilograms they returned $3168 per head.
Most considered grown heifers to be stronger than last sale with heavy heifers making up to 654c/kg.
This was for PM & AM Rentsch’s Angus draft weighing 428kg that Elders Kerr & Co sold, returning $2799p/hd.
Once again weaner steers and heifers sold very well with the steers topping at 792c/kg and the heifers topping at 754c/kg.
W Aitken had the draft of 31 Angus steers weighing 235kg that went under the Nutrien Ag hammer for 792c/kg, making $1860p/hd.
Meanwhile PTR & KE Malseed had the pen of 11 Angus X heifers also weighing 235kg that JM Ellis & Co sold for 754c/kg, returning $1772p/hd.
Also of note was a great pen 15 Angus weaner steers on account of Liewah Nominees that HF Richardson sold at open auction for $1860p/hd - weighing 191kg, this equates to a very high 972c/kg.
PTIC Heifers topped at $3800p/hd for a draft of 31 Red Angus (across three pens) on account of Corangamite Park that Charles Stewart & Co sold, weighing between 627 to 704kg.
There was a good yarding of cross-bred and Friesian steers presented which all sold very well, similar to a fortnight ago.
Something different offered this sale were some pregnancy tested empty Hereford cows on account of CW Pastoral Co that were sold by HF Richardson for $1930ph, equating to 460c/kg.
Northern restocker and backgrounder buyers continued to provide strong competition, as did local purchasers and AuctionsPlus bidding.
The next store sale at Mortlake is on Thursday, April 7 at 10am.
SALE SUMMARY
Grown Steers: top 658c/kg, $3155.91p/hd.
Grown Heifers: top 654c/kg, $2846.20p/hd.
Weighed Weaner Steers: top 792c/kg, $2836.50p/hd.
Weighed Weaner Heifers: top 754c/kg, $2493.33p/hd.
Cows and Calves: top $3550p/hd.
PTIC Heifers: top $3800p/hd.