THE 14 millimetres of rain received overnight in Hamilton didn’t dampen the spirits of cattle buyers at the Elders and Landmark Hamilton Hereford and Euro Steer weaner sale today.
Overall prices remained fully firm on previous sales held at Hamilton earlier in the week, with selected pens of premium EU accredited cattle improving five cents per kilogram live weight.
Loyal buyer Paul Mason of New Oakleigh Farm, Wellington, NSW was a dominant buyer purchasing 267 Hereford steers.
In his haul that av $820per head, Mr Mason paid the sale high of 240c/kg lwt, for John and Liz Craig, of Inverall, Hamilton, 89 Yarram Park and Injemira blood Hereford steers, weighing 258kg.
He also took home the second draft pen of the Inverall steers, weighing 311kg, at 238c/kg, as well as 25 Mt Widdern steers, 382kg, at 232c/kg and Gordon McClure’s family’s Beerik steers, 354kg, 236c/kg.
“I’ve paid on av $60 per head more than last year so I thought the cattle were quite buyable, on par with my expectations of that 230c/kg range,” he said.
Another major competitor for the EU drafts was Holbrook, NSW, seedstock producer Marc Greening, of Injemira.
Also retaining his purchases in the EU system, Mr Greening secured the second draft pen of both the Mt Widdern steers, 328kg, at 231c/kg, and Inverall steers, 311kg, at 238c/kg.
Most of the other breeders’ drafts of cattle sold from 220-230c/kg, in a consistent demand that contained very little feedlot inquiry.
“The feeder competition wasn’t missed,” Landmark Hamilton livestock manager Darron Dawson said.
“Our repeat buyers supported the sale in the way we expected them to.”
