Up until two weeks ago, East Gippsland had become very dry. This, plus increasing prices for store cattle, influenced a very large yarding of 3150 head to be penned.
The full story is that agents drew for 4255 head with consignments coming from the Monaro, far East Gippsland, Sale, plus all local districts.
While Barinsdale is an excellent selling centre there is not that amount of room, and numbers were trimmed. Some of this occurred after 20-40mm of rain fell two days prior to the sale.
Most of the eastern seaboard has been blessed with heavy rain, and buyers came from Millicent, South Australia, the Riverina, New South Wales, and all areas of Gippsland.
This larger than normal number of buyers aided some very good results, creating a very strong sale, although some said it was no dearer than another big sale just two weeks previously.
Some producers selling their annual drafts of steers and heifers added to a high quality offering with steers dominating the yarding.
After two months of drier weather, many of the cattle were in store condition, but their breeding created some of the competition.
Yearling Angus steers sold to strong feedlot and restocker competition. A Pappin & R White, both sold seers for $1825, and J Stewart & N steel were paid $1780 for their top pens.
This equaled 335c for heavy steers to a Gippsland bullock fattener, and 360c/kg to a processor for grain feeding.
Typical of other recent sales, lighter weight yearling steers sold to very strong demand, equaling 365-386c/kg lwt. Brad Rowe sold 16 Angus steers from $1380-$1530, and Brookville Angus, 23 steers from $1370-$1490.
Most of the steer yarding comprised of 2016 drop, 6-10 months old calves. Not all cattle had been weighed, but from the weights displayed, liveweight prices equaled 385-473c/kg with very young calves achieving the highest.
Some of the featured annual drafts epitomised this sales results for steers. PC Nixon & Co, Orbost, sold 106 Angus steers from $1100-$1365, all over 410c/kg lwt.
SR&MC Beasley, Emu Park, Lindenow, offered their annual draft of Hazeldene & Yancowinna blood, Angus steers.
Their 168 steers sold from $1090-$1310, to average $1215, which was an excellent result, and equaled around around 446c/kg lwt, and all were within a range of 435-470c/kg.
Landmark Millicent purchased some of these steers, and of DA&J Cameron’s 47 head from $1190-$1240. John Hayward&Partners, Ensay, sold 60 Hereford & Hereford-Shorthorn steers from $1090-$1100.
There were numerous examples of young steer calves. “Camp Hill” sold 83 Angus steers from $1080-$1180, and B Treasure, 105 Hereford steers from $960-$1205.
Charolais steers sold to strong competition from feedlots. Pannikin Park sold 12 steers for $1500, and Bemm River Properties, 14 steers for $1440. Some 46 young Charolais steers, of MW Whelan, sold from $1000-$1145.
All heifers sold very well with many potential buyers competing. P Whelan & D Connally sold 46 charolais heifers from $1480-$1545, and M&M Treasure, 16 Hereford heifers for $1430.
Very good sales were noted throughout all of the heifers sold, especially younger and lighter weight heifers. Possibly the pick of these was, M&T Clark, selling 14 Charolais heifer calves for $1060, which equaled 414c/kg lwt.
Most heifers younger heifers sold between $930&$1145. KH&WR Ingram sold 34 quality Hereford heifers from $1080-$1145, the top pen being 282kgs in weight.
A good selection of PTIC cows and heifers were offered, and considering their condition and age, prices were very good. Riverlea Blue P/L sold 23 Angus cows, calving to Pinora Angus bulls, May calving, from $1610-$1700.
JA&RM Teschke sold 56 Hereford & Poll Hereford cows, to calf July-August, from $1180-$1780. R&N Humphries sold 21 Angus & Angus-Shorthorn cows, calving later in August-September, from $820-$1040.
Rounding off a very successful day was a small selection of cows and calves. Three Limousin heifers with very good calves at foot, four months, sold for $2350, with other outfits making $1460-$2100.
One thing gleaned from this sale, is the need for cattle now that most districts can see forward, after the rain.