THERE was anticipation in the air at the Yea store sale last Friday, as buyers turned out enmasse to witnesss the first sale conducted under the newly-erected roof. Rodwells Yea agent Adam Mountjoy said the sale had strong competition, mainly from Gippsland and local areas of Yea, Alexandra, Mansfield, as well as lotfeeder competition. Rodwells sold the first pen of the sale, nine Poll Hereford steers, which made the per head top price of $930 for B&E Lundstrom, Mansfield. Oakdale Pastoral, Tallarook, also sold grown steers, with their first four Charolais-crosses making $880, while a second pen of 25 sold at $860. Oakdale also sold 10 spring-drop Charolais steer weaners at $790, while their 16 Charolais cows, depastured to Charolais to calve in August, sold at an impressive $1410. Long-time vendor John Drysdale, Yarck, was also in attendance, selling as a once-off because of a faulty joining. "I normally sell weaners in the autumn," he said. His top 19 Angus spring-drop weaners sold to $745, while 33 averaged $722. B Bates, Thornton, also sold spring-drop weaner steers, 21 Angus at $745. Some large lines of weaners were also penned, with Ancona Station selling 62 av $640, while T Holschiner, Nullum Station, Deniliquin, NSW, sold 53 Shorthorn steers also av $640, while a further 99 av $550. Chris Pollard from Landmark Yea said there was an impressive crowd turnout, possibly attracted by those wanting to see how the new yards coped under the new roof, with rain on the Thursday and Friday. "The weather was miserable over the two days but we had many comments from onlookers about how well the cattle presented, clean and dry on woodchips under the new roof," he said. He thought the steer job was good, particularly prices paid for spring-drop calves. "One of our vendors, Geoff Oliver, sold 63 Angus steer weaners from $665 to $780, which is a good price for spring-drops," he said. All up the Oliver family, Coralyn, Homewood, averaged $735 for their line, after 18 sold at $780, 22 at $760, and 23 at $665. They also sold Angus heifers, with 19 sold to $630 and a second pen of 19 making $580. Landmark clients Kevin and Noreen Foster, Strath Creek, Strathmore, also sold steers, with eight black baldies making $705, and a second pen of 11 at $610; while Happy Valley, Kinglake, sold Angus heifers, 16 at $565, six at $500, and 16 at $470. Landmark's top steer price went to Nick Brown, Strath Rural, Strath Creek, who sold 11 Angus steers at $860. Elders Yea also yarded some larger lines, with agent Bruce Elliott saying some were due to recent wet weather. "Some vendors haven't been able to get their cattle out because of the wet weather," he said. "It was a good size yarding for this time of year, which also helped to attract buyers, including some from South Gippsland who haven't been here for awhile because it has been too wet down there as well." *Full report in this week's Stock & Land