WANGARATTA agents held their annual weaner steer and heifer sale last Friday, under the now completed roof. It was very kind to man and beast, especially on a day that was over 30 degrees.
Current price trends, and limited grass across the broader consignment areas, aided a large yarding of 4124 steers and heifers, with none over 12 months of age, according to the information supplied.
Coupled with the good quality, a large field of buyers that included numerous purchasers of feeder cattle, and local breeder and fattener competition, prices were very good.
Competition varied depending on the weight of the cattle with buyers of feeder steers preferring steers over 340kg lwt. There was some preference for EU accredited steers in this weight range too.
However, these buyers didn’t have it all to themselves with numerous producers and agents buying steers to return to grass. This competition combined saw the top pen of steers sell for $1390. As most of the steers had their curfewed weights displayed, liveweight prices ranged between 316 & 328c/kg.
NE Water sold 24 Angus steers for the top price, but the strength of the sale saw 2722 steers average $1067 per head with most selling upward of $900.
Buyers of feeder steers were watching the equivalent liveweight prices, paying mostly between 316 & 340c/kg, but as most sales go, there were a few sales above the top figure. Calview PAstoral Co sold 107 EU accredited Angus steers to a top of $1210, to average $1081.
AG&JE Simpson sold 49 Angus steers, Witherswood & Araluen blood, fro $1090-$1280. Stewart Scott Nominees sold 55 Angus steers, Burama bld from $1050-$1190, the purchaser of the top pen coming from Gippsland.
While only one Gippsland agent was present, buyers came from far afield, aided by numerous buyers of feeder and backgrounding steers. Many of these went north of the Victorian border with Coonamble and Balranald being two of the places mentioned.
The strength of the feeder steer competition came from Thomas Foods, and commission buyers, Andrew Lowe, Duncan Brown and Graeme Ward. There was other feeder competition, either local or out of the district companies.
Not everyone can sell the prettiest or best quality steers, and many offered steers that varied in age. Batten Family Nominees sold 45 Angus steers, $905-$1085, and 16 Charolais steers from $1000-$1205.
While the Angus breed was the best represented, a good selection of European breeds and their crosses, and Herefords were offered for sale.
Mrs EM Wortman, Glenrowan West, sold 13 Charolais steers, 10-11mth, Paringa bld, for $1265. Numerous pens of Charolais cross, Limousin cross and Blonde D’Aquataine cross were sold. Prominent in this was Doogallook Past Co, selling a range of European cross & Hereford steers. Many of their 153 steers were of lighter weight and sold from $940-$1095, av $995.
Not every producer calves their cows at the same time, and the varied season in the north east has seen a number of younger and lighter weight steers sold. It was obvious however, that some producers were bidding on steers of breeding they have had great results from in the past.
An example of this was the first four pens of Angus steers of Paul Trowbridge. The successful bidder of the first draft took all 70 head paying $1075, or 388c/kg lwt. The next two pens totalling 56 head sold fro 985, or 383c/kg, and their last pen of 10 steers sold for $920.
Hereford steers sold very well too. Local favourites, JN&YM Muraca, “Murpak”, sold 77 EU accredited Hereford steers from $940-$1220 with the top pen purchased by TFI, and kept in the EU system.
E Murphy & Sons sold 68 Hereford steers from $1025-$1210, av $1088.
Following on from the steers were 1402 heifers with many being on very good condition. Similar to their brothers, some of these had not been weaned, and this saw a few pens purchased for slaughter.
Top of the heifer sale was AG&JE Simpson, selling 13 Angus heifers for $1145. These and a few other pens were purchased by local breeders to fill their herds, but many of the heifers went for grain feeding, or fattening on grass.
The larger percentage were sold for grain feeding and won’t be seen again. Most of the feeder heifers sold from $920-$1120, and the price average for all heifers was $898 with many second and third drafts selling from $720-$950.
AW&K Baily sold a pen of 26 Angus heifers, which were judged the Best Presented Pen. These sold for $1055, but they also sold 31 Charolais-Angus heifers from $930-$1060. The highest price pen of Angus & Charolais heifers both went for grain feeding.
Batten Family Nominees sold 69 Angus & Charolais-Angus heifers from $810-$1000. JN&YM Muraca sold 70 Hereford heifers, Injemira blood, from $900-$1050, with Injemira buying them for their fattening program.
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Not every producer calves their cows at the same time, and the varied season in the north east has seen a number of younger and lighter weight steers sold. It was obvious however, that some producers were bidding on steers of breeding they have had great results from in the past.