HEIFERS values dropped at today's Pakenham store cattle sale with a much bigger yarding than expected.
Agents reported there had been a flood of unexpected cattle sent to the sale which yarded about 2200 head, up from the 1500 advertised, because of producer concerns about the season and flat prices.Better breed steers and euro heifers at the mainly weaner sale held their value but generally the market was cheaper, with the heifers suffering the biggest drop.
Heifers reached $590 for a pen of 17 Charolais calves which at an average of 319kg made 184c/kg.
Another pen of Charolais heifers made $580 or 198c/kg but most good quality young heifers From 295 to 260kg made from $510 to $450.
There was some abattoir interested from Radfords and feedlot buyer for heifers but it wasn't enough to keep values steady with most agents and buyers agreeing it was down on last fortnight's sale.
Steer values seemed to hold steady with the top pen of 13 Angus steer at an average of 545kg making $900 or 165c/kg.
The better pens of smaller Angus steers around 350kg made from 194c/kg to 205c/kg.
Terry Grigg of Gooram, near Euroa, sold four pens of 8 to 9 month-old Angus steers and heifers and was convinced by his agent to try the Gippsland market for the first time.
He sold two pens of weaner steers to a top of $695 or 177c/kg.
He was pleased with the prices, especially the heifers which sold up to $500 and was "exactly what he'd budgeted on", but admitted values were down on a fortnight ago.
