WORLD class can best describe the exceptional yarding of over 2600 cattle offered in the all agents spring cattle sale at Bairnsdale, last Friday. Good weather and strong competition made it a good day for all concerned.
East Gippsland has been favoured with very good seasonal conditions for almost two years, and this was reflected in this annual spring sale.
Many of the very large crowd commented on the quality of this offering, which truly was outstanding for breeding, condition and potential.
Buyers came from far and wide with several from the north east trekking over Mt Hotham, through snow, to get to this sale, and many buyers from all over Gippsland also attended.
Feedlot and processor competition came into the mix also, to create some of the best competition seen for some time, and one buyer from King Island was also present and purchasing.
Feature lines certainly added to the quality yarding, and many named breeders cattle were sought by repeat buyers. While none of the really extreme prices (liveweight equivalent) were seen, a very solid market gave vendors some excellent outcomes.
Several pens of yearling steers, 0-2 teeth, sold to bullock fatteners from $1590-$1910, which equalled 365-402c/kg lwt. The Estate of A Norman sold 38 Angus & Angus-Hereford steers from $1800-$1910 with two pens heading to a Tamworth feedlot.
St Katherine’s Darriman Pty Ltd, sold 44 Hereford steers from $1590-$1720.
While not all were feature lines, many of these best displayed the intensity of the sale. Selling to processor feedlots, and many Gippsland buyers, prices were very good for the yearling off steers and those from 8-12 months of age.
K&J Alexander, Lindenow, offered a quality line of 138 Angus steers, 11-13 months, weaned in April, Leawood & Lawson’s blood. Selling in multiple pen lots, these EU accredited steers sold from $1370-$1580 with three pens remaining in the EU system. All sales were over 400c/kg lwt.
P Commins, Ensay, sold 119 Hereford steers, Nunniong blood, from $1190-$1460, again all over 400c, up to 441c/kg lwt. “Woody Group” offered 78 Charolais steers, 325-371kgs, from $1340-$1440. The third pen of these was the first of a few pens purchased by Ian Lester, King Island.
The largest feature line was that of “Kent Park, Mt Taylor. Geoff & Patricia sent 175 Hereford steers for sale at Bairnsdale. Their property did suffer during the early winter months, and these calves 8-10 months were of lighter weight. Selling from $720-$1310, av $1038, these steers sold up to 458c/kg lwt, for some of the best liveweight results of the day.
Typical of many sales, the younger and lighter weight steers sold to very strong competition. PC Nixon & Co, sold 91 Angus steers from $1110-$1300.
It was a long way into the sale before steer prices fell below $1000, and the number of steers that sold below this figure were relatively few, and all quite young.
Progressing onto the heifers saw no change in demand, and in some cases, the intensity increased. Yearling heifers peaked at $1470 for 20 Angus heifers offered by the Mc Cauley family. These were purchased by Garrison feedlot, Swan Hill, and were the first of many heading that way.
Many of the heifers sold very well in liveweight terms with a range of 365-424c/kg paid. T&DP Guaraccia sold 14 Belgium Blue heifers, 328kgs, for $1305, and L Woodgate, 16 Hereford heifers, 270kgs, for $1150.
Eighteen accredited Angus heifers, sold by P Fraser, Ensay, made $1180, and regularly sought after Angus heifers, bred by G DiMarco sold from $1130-$1255.
Younger, and lighter weight heifers sold mostly between $690 & $1005. AR Brown sold 20 Angus heifers for $1005, while the 70 hereford heifers of Kent Park, sold from $690-$830.
A larger than normal offering of cows with calves were penned, due in part ot a part herd dispersal. Top of the list was two pens of Buchan Station cows and calves, which were only being because they were out of calving sequence. These sold to strong competition making $2400 & $2450.
JT&JA Vardy sold a paddock and dispersed 55 Angus heifers & cows with mixed age calves at foot. Selling between $1720 & $2220 was excellent, as they were mostly in store condition.