This annual autumn sale always presents a top quality yarding for breeding, and this year the condition of the cattle only enhanced the offering of 2935 steers and heifers.
Buyers came from as far as Scone in NSW, several buyers traveled over Mt Hotham and South and West Gippsland buyers were plentiful too. All of this was complimented by feedlot buyers, and a live export order for heifers.
All of this led to a very good sale, and typical of all sales, the lighter the cattle the better the competition, and therefore prices.
Opening the sale, Wyndham Livestock auctioneer, Colin Jones, announced that the weights displayed were only a sample of the pen, and to be used as a guide only.
D Jenson, Calulu, sold a pen of 16 Angus steers to open the sale, making $1250. This was followed by the first of 6 pens of Buchan Station Angus steers, which also sold for $1250. By the end of the steer section, Buchan Station had sold 133 Angus steers for an average of $1119.
Their steers, like many other pens, improved in price on a liveweight price basis, as the sale progressed. Early sales equalled 320-366c/kg, and as the sale reached some young and very light calves, sales equalled up to and over 400c/kg lwt.
This saw a range of prices for steers of medium to heavier weights making from $1020-$1270, with the highest price achieved for 19 Hereford steers of C&J Cooper, Wulgulmerang.
Bayrook Pastoral Co, Gelantipy, sold 66 Hereford and Hereford-Shorthorn steers from their annual draft of calves. These steers sold between $1030&$1200, to average $1108.
PC Nixon & Co sold 207 Angus and Angus cross steers of varying ages with the top pen making $1215. The youngest steers sold from $805-$1045, the lightest estimated to equal 403c/kg lwt.
Feedlot buyers were concentrating on steers weighing up to 370kgs lwt, with some heading to Garrison feedlot, and some to Hopkins River in the Western District. There were several orders for backgrounding steers and heifers.
South Gippsland finally had some rain, and although it does not grow grass instantly, producers were keen to commence refilling paddocks. Some purchased the heavier steers, while others opted for younger cattle.
BA Llewyn sold the best of the Charolais steers with 14 head selling for $1140. Glenshiel Past Co, Butchers Ridge, sold 20 Charolais steers for $1090, and 21 Angus-HEreford steers for $1080.
Some of the noteable Angus steer sales were D&D Guy who sold 65 steers from $100-$1150 with their liveweight prices equalling 311-367c/kg. Tacmal P/L, sold 62 younger Angus steers for $852, or 366c/kg lwt.
Some of the other larger lines are worth noting. Coral Scott sold 144 Angus, Angus-Hereford and Hereford steers from $960-$1100, all very good sales. Finchley Pastoral Co, Delegate, offered 112 Hereford and Hereford cross steers that sold from $850-$985.
The first line of heifers had been sold at this time with most heifers selling from $790-$1000. C&J Copper sold Hereford heifers for the top price, and Bayrook Pastoral, 64 Hereford heifers from $790-$880.
