UNDER THE HAMMER: Stephen Paull, Dan Ivone and Mike Scollard at last week’s annual Blue Ribbon weaner sale at the Paull & Scollard yard at Myrtleford, which resulted in lower prices for vendors.

LOCAL cattle producers have settled for prices down on last year at the autumn sale in Myrtleford, but not below expectations.

The annual Paull & Scollard Blue Ribbon weaner sale attracted a wide range of buyers from South Australia, Queensland and the peninsula looking to stock up on quality cattle.

About 2250 head were yarded, exceeding earlier expectations for between 1500 and 2000, and prices were solid without being outstanding.

Paull & Scollard stock agent Dan Ivone said steer prices held up while heifers were a little disappointing, but this was a reflection of the market.

Mr Ivone was very happy with the volume of cattle, which included about 100 pens of steers, and also producers’ ability to keep the animals in good condition.

"The cattle were very good quality considering the lack of rain we had and I think sellers would be reasonably happy with the prices," he said.

"Heifers are a little bit down on last year, but that’s the season we’re having."

Top weight was $812 for a pen of yearling Angus steers produced by Harrietville’s Fraser family, and sold to T&R Pastoral, and buyers for feedlots were very active on the day.

The heifer market was kept more buoyant than might have been the case if not for a buyer snapping up beef for a global export company.

Mudgeonga’s Alan Crisp sold 21 11-12month-old steers at $580/head, which was almost spot-on to his pre-sale prediction.

"I was thinking around the 580-600 mark and would have liked a bit more," he said.

"I think most people would be happy with the prices, considering the weather…we need rain and we need it now."