Northern buyers looking for more cattle but are being circumspect on weaner prices

Nutrient livestock manager at Casterton Greg Bright said overall the market was very strong for the three sales they held last week.

"Our sales were black Angus steers, Hereford steers, then a combined heifer sale, and we had buyers from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, NSW, and Queensland all operating," Mr Bright said.

GDL northern NSW agent Jeff Garland based at North Star, was operating for two Queensland clients including Andrew Wardle of GDL St George and one NSW client and finished with 470 steers for an average of $1700/head.

"We are certainly looking for more cattle but are being circumspect on price," Mr Garland said.

Mr Wardle said they secured 100 steers at the Wodonga sale for an $1700/head average.

"They are for a client who will feed for the Woolworths supermarket specification," he said. "After we secured them we had to pull out as we didn't get a look in, and didn't fill any more orders as the market was too strong for us.

"In the end we could not make the figures add up as it certainly is a tough trading environment at the moment."

Dalby livestock agent Brendan Kelly, Kellco, attended four Victorian sales last week and finished with 1000 EU Angus weaner steers.

"We bought the lead heavy pens from Casterton, Mortlake and Hamilton," he said

Mr Kelly paid up to 485c/kg for steers in the 385 kilogram weight range returning around $1860/head on account of Camm Ag Group, Wonga Plains, Bowenville.

"When prices are high and weights are up you expect to have to pay and my philosophy is - you either want them or you don't," Mr Kelly said.

Camm Ag CEO Bryce Camm said they always feed for the EU market and had to travel that far to fill their order.

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