PREGNANCY tested Angus heifers sold to a top of $1700 at Ballarat in a market where breeders had plenty of low cost opportunities.
The Langi Kal Kal Angus heifers due to calve in March, which topped this market last year at $2100, sold for $1700.
Landmark Dwyer John Robson, of Kyneton, bought them for Basil Byrne, of Colac, who incidentally paid the top price last year.
But off the top pens, most of the joined Angus heifers sold from $1000-$1300, which was about $100-$200 down on last year.
Langi Kal Kal manager Matthew Menhennet was pleased with the prices for his 40 joined Angus heifers which sold down to $1250.
"They are realistic prices, given the season and overall cattle market," Mr Menhennet.
Unjoined 14-18 month Angus heifers sold to a top of $900 at rates from 180-195c/kg.
Steve Champman, of T&R Pastoral and Rodwells Wayne Driscoll from Horsham, who was buying for a lotfeeder, were prominent on the most of the grown heifers.
Brett Stewart, of Wimmera Downs, topped the autumn-drop Angus weaner heifers at $860 for a pen of 27 371kg heifers bred from Banquet bulls.
Mr Stewart said the top weaner price made up for the disappointment of his 34 joined Angus heifers which sold from $1320-$1380.
Angus weaner heifers which were bought for feeding sold at rates from 200-230c/kg.
Included among the buyers were north-east commission buyers Duncan Brown and Damian Whyte.
Mr Brown was the major buyer of the lighter heifers paying from $450-$550.
TB White & Sons auctioneer Leo White said the prices were back.
"But given the season around here and state of the beef market, it was what we would expect.
"It was a good thing we didn't draw for 4500," Mr White said in reference to the smaller than advertised yarding of 3600 head.
