GOOD prices matched with buying opportunity meant vendors and buyers were both happy with the outcome of today’s annual Colac female weaner sale which peaked at $1400per head.
Prices for the 251 pregnancy tested in calf (PTIC) heifer offering sold to $1400, paid by Charles Stewart Dove, Colac, for a pen of 14 2.5year-old Angus heifers, joined to Murdeduke bulls, due to calve in February/March.
They were part of 63 Angus heifers that averaged $1194, being dispersed by Eric Bailey and his family after their Winchelsea property sold last month.
Howard and Beryl Bush, Penny Royal also offered well-chased females, including 79 two year-old Angus heifers, Hazeldene blood, PTIC to Hazeldene bulls, to commence calving from February that sold to $1260, and av $1165per head.
“I thought (joined heifers) could have been a little bit better on the second run - they made not much over kill value,” Landmark, Colac auctioneer Phil Douglas said.
The heavier heifers sold from 180-200c/kg while weaner heifers from 260-320kg fetched 215-235c/kg.
The 1822 heifer weaners sold peaked at $850/head, or 190cents per kilograms, paid by Robert Woodward, owner of Garrison Feedlot, Murray Downs and Swan Hill Abattoirs. It was paid for a pen of eight 20-22month-old Murray Grey heifers, weighing 448kg sold by local vendor I&B Boyd.
Alex Scott and Staff’s Neil Darby purchased a popular run of 84, 14-16month-old Angus heifers, weighing 331kg, Murdeduke blood, sold by Barclay Partnership, Beeac for $760/hd, or 230c/kg.
Richard and Fiona Barclay also sold 54 of their lighter paddock mates, weighing 300kg, for $645, or 215c/kg, bought by Will Richardson, of HF Richardson, Geelong for local backgrounders.
Hardwicks Meatworks, Garrison Feedlots, Thomas Foods International, Alex Scott agents, Teys Australia and Bindaree Beef, Inverell dominated the front row of the gallery, while HF Richardson proved the major buyer for local restockers and backgrounders.
“The smaller heifers went to the feeder job, grass finishes and Northern feeders - overall from start to finish it was a solid sale,” Mr Douglas said.
“Majority of the mid-range (weight) heifers went north into NSW, and northern Victoria… Herefords may have been a touch cheaper but generally overall we didn’t see buyers distinguish between breeds.
“While we are generally quite happy from start to finish, we didn’t get the highlights some of the sales further west received in the last couple of weeks but I would say most of the vendors, compared to the last couple of years, would have been reasonably happy with how the sale has gone.”
A small offering of cows and calves sold to $1310, while the 41 joined cows peaked at $1160.