Nutrien Powranna Weaner Sale sees thousands of yarded cattle

More than 3400 heads of cattle were yarded for the recent Powranna Weaner Sale.

Heavy steer weaners (330 + kg) made $1,500 to $2,060 (av. 530c), medium (280-330 kg) $1,440 to $1,700 (530c), light (200-280 kg) $1,000 to $1,580 (565c) and very small $800 to $1,260 (600c).

Meanwhile, heavy heifer weaners make $1,300 to $1,660, medium $1,220 to $1,420, light $700 to $1,400 and very small $700 to $920/head.

Nutrien Ag Solutions senior livestock agent and auctioneer Warren Johnston said the sale was a success.

“Given that we are late in the season, and the days are getting shorter and colder, we thought this market might have played a bit more havoc,” Mr Johnston said.

“But we had a great day.

“The market was very solid and there were great returns for our clients.”

Mr Johnston said the sale was a big one by Tasmanian standards.

“It was the biggest yarding that any agency yarded for this season.
“But the calves presented extremely well.

“It was a credit to all the vendors for what they produced and put forward, and I think they were equally rewarded for that.”

The overall cattle market, according to Mr Johnston, looked good going forward.

“There is demand for red meat, whether it’s beef or lamb, but the processing market is fairly solid,” he said.

“I think everyone’s a little bit concerned about where the numbers will come from in the winter, which is giving people the drive to go and spend money on young cattle.”

Mr Johnston said that he hoped sheep and cattle numbers in the state would improve.

“We’ve seen a lot of cattle go out of the state over the last couple of years, and that was primarily due to the season.

“The state needs to fill up again.”