Barnawartha's best prices

This yarding comprised few yearling steers, but the breeding of the cattle was good to very good.

Now that it has rained in some areas, more producers were attempting to buy replacements. However in order to make a purchase, they had to contend with numerous feedlots that were purchasing steers and heifers to be grain fed, and younger cattle to background for later feeding.

This created strong competition and some of the best prices seen so far this year.

While Thomas Foods International (TFI) has a big kill to fill each day, and were by far the best competitor, they had plenty of opposition.

The sale opened with agents selling a few smaller pen lots of yearling steers, with the heaviest weighing in at 439 kilograms.

D&K Daly, Pine Mountain, offloaded 49 Hereford and Hereford-Angus steers, some with two teeth. These sold to $1140, or 260 cents/kg.

However, S&J Goldsworthy, Beechworth, sold 15 Angus steers for $1205 (top price), SV&HJ Mahoney, Mansfield, 340 Hereford steers to $1050, and D O'Brien, Merrijig, 10 Angus steers for $1060.

These all had weights displayed, and made the equivalent of 271-286c/kg.

From there on, the large yarding of steers, mostly 6-11 months, and generally in store condition, sold for the equivalent of 270-296c/kg.

Some of the youngest calves reached an estimated 317c/kg.

Morning Glory Pastoral Co, Ournie, NSW, sold 66 Angus steers, EU-accredited, 9-10 months, from $685-$970, av $842.

Three other large drafts of steers best testify to the strength of this market.

D Kirwan, Kensal Green, Bungowannah, offered 116 Angus steers, The Grange-blood, from $720-$978, av $868, while RA&MM Shea, Barfold Beef, Barfold, cleared 209 Angus steers from $575 (for young calves) up to $920, av $776.

Last but not least was the 267 Angus steers sold by Brooksby Past Co, Warrah, Holbrook, NSW, which realised $515-$800, av $676. Some of these and many other younger Angus steers were purchased to background for later grain feeding.

Several drafts of Charolais and Charolais-cross steers were offered, also faring well.

Lad Kirk, Tallangatta, sold 11 Charolais steers for $845, and D&P Vickoru, and Mountain Bay Pastoral, both sold steers to a top of $750.

R&R O'Keefe, Bruarong, sold the highest price Charolais-Hereford steers for $990.

AD Copping & Sons, Avenue Ridge, SA, and Techno Grazing, Mount Burr, Lucindale, SA, both sent cattle to Barnawartha, in a bid to capture the competition of those who have had rain.

AD Copping sold 139 Angus steers from $540-$755, and Techno Grazing, 68 Angus steers from $420-$640.

Competition from producers was strong on the cows and calves, with most in fair to store condition with calves at-foot (CAF) from two to eight weeks. Many outfits sold above splitting value from $1220-$1730.

The top price went to G Peacock, Myrtleford, with 17 Angus cows, second and third CAF, two to three months, that sold from $1640-$1730.

Many pens of joined females were also offered, including Palmyra Past Co, Baddaginnie, who sold 191 cows via a dispersal, from $920-$1270.

D Kirwan, Bungowannah, sold 62 Angus heifers from $780-$910 with the top pen bought by a breeder after bidding started at $750. These heifers weighed 318kg and equalled 286c/kg.

Such was the strength of this sale, many heifers sold between $640-$910, which was quoted by some as $100 dearer than recent sales.