RICHARD McGeehan and other local cattle producers are excited the Euroa saleyard roof could be finished ahead of schedule and in time for the mid-January weaner sale.
When Mr McGeehan, the cattle vendor representative of the saleyard committee, drove past the saleyards, earlier this week he was excited to see the roof looked at be "about 90 per cent done" and meaning the contractor could finish before Christmas, which is about a month before deadline.
The roof will improve the health and safety of animals and people at the yards, he said.
He commended Strathbogie Shire chief executive officer Steve Crawcour for putting together the business plan for the upgrade and being instrumental in getting the project off the ground.
"Last week I had a meeting with the CEO and Asset Services manager (Roy Hetherington) and we're going to meet in January to put together a proposal to put the $500,000 funding the new Labor Government promised during the election campaign to use," Mr McGeehan said.
"We know how governments work, so we're not sure if it'll be next year or in a few years' time. But yes, we're confident they'll keep that promise."
The money could be spent on relocating overhead powerlines, extending the roof and upgrading the old sheep yard that was "sub par".
The moves to improve the community and industry hub were satisfying.
"We started talking about putting a roof on three years ago, but we weren't sure it was ever going to happen."
The committee has been fighting to upgrade the saleyard to ensure its future, which they say is not only important to the cattle buyers and sellers, but as an economic and social pillar of the broader community.
Mr McGeehan runs 270 to 350 breeders at Flowerdale Farm in Euroa depending on the season. He has moved to having more Angus than Herefords in the last few years because he finds the blacks easier to sell, with some Herefords on the foothills. He has been buying black bulls from Rod Newnham, New Blacks Angus and Black Simmental stud, Euroa.
Most of the herd calves down in autumn because Mr McGeehan said it suited the country including feed availability and his target markets.
Store cattle are sold at Euroa's Angus feature sale in November and the weaner sale in January, while prime cattle are sold at Shepparton.
Mr McGeehan was pleased with the price his cattle achieved at Euroa's Angus feature sale last month – the tops of the 80 Angus steers sold for $860, with the balance fetching $665-$775, and the draft of 81 Angus and 10 Angus-Hereford heifers sold for $535-$685, and the top price was also the best for Angus heifers on the day.
The prices were welcomed considering the dry conditions the region was experiencing.
"We just snuck in a spring, because we got no rain in August and three little rains in September that helped us along."
He also bought 45 pregnancy-tested in-calf replacement heifers and second calvers at the feature Angus sale, paying up to $1260, average about $1100.
Mr McGeehan is hopeful the sale of his 45 mixed-sex Hereford weaners goes as well as January's Euroa weaner sale.
