THERE is good money to be made in heifers for breeding as many vendors found at Ballarat today.
One such vendor was Peter Seivers from Kyneton who sold pregnancy tested Angus and Hereford heifers for $1660 and $1720.
"They were heifers which I bought at the Hamilton weaner sales last year for about $600," said a jubilant Mr Seivers, who specialises in selling joined heifers.
"The only problem now is that the replacement heifers are becoming very dear," he said.
The strong demand for breeding heifers was also evident in the sales of the younger heifers.
Among the buyers of heifers was Michael Edges from Birregurra.
He bought 80 12-15 month-old heifers, paying to a top of $1120 for Brian and Kate Carey's early Autumn 2010-drop Barwidgee blood Angus from Gordon.
The Carey's 200 Black Hill steers and heifers were the feature of the sale.
The tops of the steers at 491kg sold for $1190 at rate of 238c/kg..
The buyer of the top pen was Rob Ould of Alex Scot and Co from Korumburra.
Ballarat's yarding of 2500 steers included a wide selection of heavy to very small steers.
Topping the sale at $1220 were a pen of four Angus at 606kg. They were bought for processor MC Herd at an equivalent rate of 202c/kg.
Several other pens of 450kg plus steers sold for more than $1100 at rates to 234c/kg.
David Maconochie of the Hopkins River feedlot at Dunkeld was very strong on the pens of 350-400kg Angus paying to a top of $980 or 242c/kg for 18 404kg steers sold on account of JC&MA Kinlay.
At the lighter end of his 170 head purchases he was paying 260-270c/kg.
Mr Maconochie said his cattle would be going immediately onto a 100-day feeding program.
Leo White of TB White and Co said the prices for the heavier cattle were up there with the best of this year.
He said he thought the prices for the lighter steers might have been back a little on Ballarat's March sale.
