The selling of store cattle returned to the Hay in the Riverina on Thursday with the clearance of 1210 head that were visibly checked by a tough western NSW season.
Selling to a smallish field of mostly Victorian buyers prices achieved were considered satisfactory as better drafts of well breed steers managed prices from $1000 to a top of $1350 head while lighter, younger steer drafts made upwards of $880 a head.
Opening the market a yard of 23 Angus steers, 12-14 months made at $1350. Offered by Cooneen and estimated at 430-440kg (no scales at Hay) these realized about 310-315c/kg while a pen of 21 Wakefield Black baldy steers (est 400kg) made $1190.
Jonathan Vagg and family, Mt Hope, sold a draft of their Furlong Angus steers with the lead two yards sold at $1140 and $1070.
Ivan Jobe, Wallaby, Booligal sold Angus-cross (est 330kg) at $1080 while Lignum Park, Ivanhoe sold Charolais/Santa steers at $1070 and $980 a head.
A line of Cawkers Well Hereford steers (est 320kg) made $1120 while a second, lighter pen made $930.
As mentioned heavier steers were sold at an estimated 300-320c/kg while lighter drafts made from 320kg to 360kg with odd pens of lighter, to almost 400kg.
Auctioneer, Marc Braybon, Landmark described the penning as “ideal store condition”. Most sold, he said, had experienced a reasonable autumn following an early break. “But with the severe frosts, virtually no rain and the feed being short, the winter had proven to be tough hence the cattle, although stretched out, lacked bloom and condition and were ideal for buying”.
The yarding of heifers, which comprised almost 65 per cent of the total yarding also met with keen inquiry with a large portion sold from $830 to $1000, before topping at $1120.
Among the better sales: Cooneen sold Angus heifers at $1010 a head, Wakefield sold two yards of Angus at $1000 and $890 a head while Furlong sold Angus heifers at $920, $870, $850 and $830 a head.
Mt George, Broken Hill sold 23 Angus heifers at $840. Roeta sold Angus heifers at $880 and $800 while a draft of its black baldy heifers made at $860 and $850.
A line Hereford heifers, 8-10 months made $740-$780 for Yoe Lake, Wilcannia.
Heavier drafts of heifers mostly made 285-320c/kg while light heifers fetched per kilograms of 315-360 cents.
Buyers from Wodonga, Swan Hill and Holbrook along with a local feedlot operator claimed the lion’s share of the yarding, with the Corcoran Parker agency at Wodonga the largest buyer by far securing 460 head.
...although stretched out, the cattle lacked bloom and condition and were ideal for buying.
- Marc Braybon, Landmark auctioneer
