THE Wangaratta Livestock Exchange is going great guns with 47,133 head of cattle passing through the yards in 2023-24, the best result since 2014 when council relinquished management of the yards over to an independent board featuring industry experts.
Cattle throughput including private, store, and prime cattle in 2014 was slightly above the 2024FY figure at 47,849 head.
Over the last three years cattle auction numbers have been 44,437 (2023FY), 46,895 (2022FY) and 26,175 (2021FY).
Facilities at the saleyards are improving as well, with several upgrades completed to the weighbridge this year.
Catwalks will be installed to new pens this year and a successful grant through the Victorian Government obtained a new radio frequency identification (RFID) high flow scanner to be installed in December.
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The store sale at the exchange in July had 4902 cattle sold valued at $5,188,390 from local producers.
At the Rural City of Wangaratta August council meeting last week, Chris Roach was reappointed as a director of the livestock exchange for a further two years and councillors sang the praises of the exchange management over the last decade.
Cr Harry Bussell thanked all the people who run the saleyards.
"It runs so much better than it used to and it's such an important facility and it's a credit to these people in how it's run now," he said.
Cr Irene Grant said the livestock exchange wasn't in peril, but at one stage it looked like it wasn't going to be viable.
"I would like to acknowledge the work of the board in reinvigorating the facility and providing a much needed service to the overall community and I think they've done a fantastic job," she said.
Mayor Dean Rees pointed out that the board chair John Muraca helped out in getting the livestock exchange back on track and has done a fantastic job and has a band of great people.
He highlighted the rural city's work, including direct corporate and leisure Sarah Brindley's governance work in relation to the exchange.
A major $3.4 million redevelopment of the venue was officially opened in October 2016.
