Steers sold to 342c/kg
Average 330c/kg, or $1120/head
REPEAT buyer Paul Mason, New Oakleigh Farms, Wellington, NSW was the dominant buyer at 49th Elders and Landmark Hereford and Euro weaner steer sale.
Mr Mason purchased 312 head of Hereford weaners, predominantly Yarram Park blood, for an average of 335cents per kilogram, which was up on the sale’s 329c/kg, or $1120/head average.
The European Union bullock producers’ purchase included a run of 78 steers offered by Liz and John Craig, Inverell, Casterton, which won the champion pen of steers at the sale.
The Yarram Park and Bowmont blood steers weighed 370kg and were knocked down at 332c/kg.
In total, Inverell sold 145 head to 334c/kg, and av 334c/kg.
Last year, Mr Mason purchased 267 Hereford steers to 240c/kg at the same sale for an av $820per head.
In September, he sold these calves at an estimated 355kg dressed weight for an av $1980, or 560c/kg.
It is indicative of the massive jump producers have received for steers this year, more than 100c/kg or $400/head on last year’s prices.
The price lift is made sweeter with all sales reporting an average weight lift per head from 16-20kg on last year’s levels.
The top price of the sale was 342c/kg, paid by Ben Redfern, Ray White Emms Mooney, Molong, NSW, for 17 Melville Park blood Hereford steers, 326kg, from Cherrymount, Glenthompson.
Mr Redfern was an active buyer throughout the steers sales, selecting a further 82 head, for an av 330c/kg, at Thursday’s sale.
In dollars per head, the highest priced pen was $1343, paid by Teys Feedlot, Charlton for 23 EU accredited Hereford steers, 415kg, Yarram Park and Injemira blood, bred by Di and Geoff Notman, Mount Widderin, Skipton.
Bidding rarely touched as low as 320c/kg, with one of the most consistent run of prices week between 324-340c/kg for weaners from 260-415kg, with a premium of about 7c/kg paid for EU.
The lead run of EU accredited steers topped at 340c/kg, paid by Mr Mason, for 53 Hereford steers, 352kg, Yarram Park and Melville Park blood, offered by Owen McClure, Beerik, Coleraine.
In the Euro run, 20 Charolais cross steers, 301kg, Delamere blood, offered by R & D Nolte sold to 337c/kg, or $1014/head.
Local vendors Dallas sold the opening runoff Euro cattle with three pens of 36 Mt William blood Charolais weaners, which sold to 325c/kg, for a top dollars per head value of $1251.
Landmark, Casterton livestock manager Greg Bright was an active bidder, purchasing 238 head of mixed breed steers for an av 329c/kg, on behalf of Landmark International, for a live export order bound for Russia in March.
Active on the majority of the yarding was Jamie Eccles, Hawksdale, who paid on av 329c/kg for 120 head.
Phil Gledhill, Elders Holbrook, paid av 333c/kg for 98 head of heavier cattle for grass finishing by Marc Greening, Injemira Beef Genetics, Wagga Wagga.
Another notable buyer was Tom Fagg, on behalf of JA McGregor Livestock, Warialda, NSW, who purchased 119, av 320c/kg.
Elders, Hamilton auctioneer Aaron Malseed clients were very happy with the results.