The best yarding of Herefords at Hamilton in nearly 30 years was how agents described yesterday’s Independent Agents Hereford steer weaner sale.
In keeping with the tone of the week so far, prices were far in excess of last year’s sale with most of this year’s yarding reaching between 325 and 345 cents per kilogram.
Kerr and Co auctioneer Craig Pertzel said the yarding of 2500 was one of the best he had seen in 28 years at Hamilton.
He said prices on the day were “exceptional.”
Mr Pertzel said he was thrilled that producers had some of the high pricing after years of missing out.
“The bullock producers and the restockers have had the good prices and the producers could only dream about them,” he said.
“This time the breeders have been rewarded.”
For steers in the mid-300kg range prices peaked at 350c/kg while steers in the heavier end of the market sold to a top of around 340c/kg.
Mr Pertzel said EU Accredited cattle attracted a premium of 15-20/kg in places.
The annual draft from L.R. and S.M. Wheeler, Wallacedale, Victoria,selling 206 steers to a top of 341c/kg and $1378.16 on a dollar a head basis.
Chief buyer of the Wheeler cattle was TFI.
The Orana draft from the Paul and Caroline Malseed, Condah, sold to a top of $1297.45
A pen of 89 Orana steers weighing 342kg was finally knocked down for 353c/kg to commission buyer Andrew Lowe account Paul Mason, Wellington, NSW.
Marcus and Julia Winter-Cooke forwarded their annual draft of weaner steers with the top pen of 23 selling for $1309, or 340c/kg.
Buyer was account Mason, Wellington, who also bought two other lines of the Murndal draft. Volume vendor for the sale was Neville and Alice McClure, Harrow, Victoria, Mooree with 451 cattle.
Repeat-buyer of the Mooree cattle, John Wilde, paid 342c/kg this year for 149 of the Mooree steers which weighed an average 338kg.
Andrew Lowe also purchased 180 Mooree steers for a northern NSW client paying 330c/kg for the steers weighing an average of 305kg.
Cattle Geoff McErvale, Branxholme offered 280 head of Angus and Hereford weaners for sale this week and said the bouyed prices were welcome news for producers battling with dry conditions.
On average his steers are up $430/head on last years, which he called a “red hot” result. Agents operating the sale were J.M.Ellis and Co, Lanyons, LMB Linke Livestock, Krr and Co, and Southern Grampians Livestock and Real Estate.
