Producers are opting to sell their steers and heifers now, attracted by the very good prices being paid. This scenario saw 2447 cattle penned in the independent agents sale at Wodonga last Thursday.
A small change in the order of sale saw three pens of cows sold first. Aberfeldie Pastoral Company, Deniliquin, NSW, sold 22 Simmental cross, Angus and Hereford cows, PTIC to Simmental bulls for May calving.
These cows were in prime condition and weighed from 630-703 kilograms liveweight, and they sold to strong restocker demand. They sold for $1620-$2020, which saw their liveweight price equivalents outweigh their fat value by 30-40c/kg.
This strong result then set the pace for the rest of the day. Cows and calves sold very well for their quality, making from $1900-$2480 for most sales.
It is fair to say that the edge was off the sale of steers, and there were chances throughout the sale, but local competition kept most of the feeder competition out of the sale. Buyers of feeder steers were looking for a reduction in price, but could not compete at this sale’s levels.
Agents yarded a large number of steers weighing between 320-410kg. Normally these steers would sell to strong feedlot competition but were purchased mostly by local district producers.
R&S Burnside, Samaria, sold 40 Angus steers for $1470, and many pens made between $1200 and this top price. Many steers sold for a liveweight range equivalent to 365-390c/kg.
Now that the January annual calf sales have been and gone, there were few lines of steers offered or more than two pens in a draft. While this may not have suited buyers of feeder steers, it did not hold back producers looking for smaller numbers to control grass.
CN&PE Bennetts, Barjarg, sold 36 Angus steers for $1240-$1420, and LC&CE Briggs, Corryong, 27 Angus steers for $1160-$1370. GA&VM Redding, Sandy Creek, Khancoban, sold 30 EU accredited Angus steers for $1200-$1385, but neither these nor other EU cattle were kept in the system.
The 53 Black Simmental steers of Banyandah Past Co, Vallima, Wagga Wagga, NSW, made $1320-$1420, and NW&MA Baber, Walla Walla, NSW, sold 12 Charolais steers for $1300.
Two of the large drafts of steers were of lighter weights, and emphasised the strength of competition for producers not wanting to pay too high a dollar figure.
Account Stonehaven, Holbrook, NSW, sold 86 Angus steers, 200-295kg for $855-$1050, equalling up to and over 400c/kg lwt. RJ Witherow, Edenderry, Murmungee, sold 54 Hereford and Angus-Hereford steers for $1085-$1250, which equalled up to 455c/kg lwt.
The surprise package of the sale was competition for many of the heifers penned. While demand was slow at the start, which saw some of the yearling heifers sell at cheaper rates, some pens of heifers sold better than the steers. Liveweight prices for some steers were around 365-375c, but some heifers equaled up to 397c/kg lwt.
Some of this was due to breeders supplying future cows, but with feedlot competition entering the sale, most heifers sold at unchanged rates.
Banyandah Past Co, Walla Walla, sold 38 Angus heifers from $1255-$1405, equaling 371-375c, while JT&LJ Harrison, Khancoban, NSW, sold 40 Angus heifers for $1190-$1210. These heifers were lighter in weight, and sold to similar liveweight price equivalents.
European breeds sold well for their age and weight good sale with KL&PM Proctor, Kintore, Levena, selling 14 heifers to $1200. Their lighter weight heifers at $1130 equalled 420c/kg lwt. ID&DM McGaffin, Huon Creek, sold 14 Simmental cross heifers for $1170.
Young heifers, like their brothers, sold to very strong demand with the end price suiting some producers. RJ Witherow, Edenderry, Murmungee, sold 28 Angus-Hereford and Hereford heifers from $900-$920, and being weighed equalled 380-386c/kg. One pen of 42 young Angus heifers, offered by Geddes Past Co, Yallock, Holbrook, sold for $880.
Right at the end of the sale was several small pen lots of very young calves. One pen of these was Friesian bucket reared calves, spring drop. these sold for $600, again judged by weight, quality and breeding, this was a very good sale.
Next month will see the annual Paull & Scollard, and Elders Myrtelford sale happen, Friday, March 10.