Bairnsdale bulls reach $3550 top

Many vendors were off-loading cattle to take the pressure off fodder stores, as pasture growth is still negligible on dryland country in East Gippsland and southeast NSW.

In saying that, producers are to be commended for sending in well-prepared cattle.

There were several feedlot and meat buyers among the bidders, alongside South Gippsland restockers – after recent heavy rain many said they were now able to get onto their country and some expected to lay down fertiliser to push hay production along.

Ensay’s Phil and Kerry Geehman sent in a pen of two-year-old Hereford steers with size, 606kg, that sold at $1675. A second pen, yearlings and lighter at 381kg, sold at $1170.

Broadlands’ Colin and Kerry Nelson sent in several pens of grown 20-month-old Angus steers – their first sale as cattle farmers, he said. Their heaviest average pen, 511kg, sold at $1595. Bought as weaners, the steers were fed on lucerne and oaten hay and grass pasture, and the draft averaged $1493.

Dorothy Beveridge, Lake Tyers Beach, sold Hereford steers, 551kg, at $1590.

T&DP Guarnaccia, Lakes Entrance, sent in Speckle and Belgian Blue steers – the heaviest three Speckles, ave 515kg, sold at $1565. The balance, 450kg, returned $1385.

Mt Taylor’s Stuart Baud sent in Angus steers, 490kg, that sold at $1510.

Tambo Angus-bloodline Angus steers, 413kg, vendor Ian and Michelle Brownrigg, Clifton Creek, sold at $1490.

E&J Duffy, Stratford, sold Angus and Galloway steers, 407kg, to $1480.

Reece and Wendy Newcomen, Ensay, sent in Hereford steers, 518kg, that sold to $1465.

Terry and Leanne Moreing, Bibbenluke NSW, sold a draft of Hereford steers, Morfield bloodline – top ave pen 466kg, sold at $1450.

G&L Klienitz, Orbost, sent in a pen of Hereford steers, 490kg, that returned $1440.

Dallas Jennings, Broadlands, sold a pen of Hereford steers that she had bought to grow out, 504kg, $1430.

Kalimna’s Hanson and Dickson sold two pens of Hereford steers, 440kg, to $1420, ave $1385.

A pen of Angus steers, rising-2yo, 567kg, returned $1410 for Brian and Sue Fechner, Bengworden.

Hillside’s Colleen Hurley and Vilenza, Wairewa, both sent in Angus steers that sold at $1400.

J&G Clancy, Calulu, sent in yearling Angus steers, 369kg, to sell at $1300.

Angus and Black Baldy steers, vendor J&T Sandy, Canni Creek, sold to $1280 – being the topweight ave pen, 372kg.

Ensay’s George Farmer sold 12-16mo Hereford steers, 385kg, $1200.

Charolais steers, 12-14mo, vendor Glenshiel Pastoral, Gelantipy, sold to $1150, for a pen ave 338kg. The draft of three pens averaged $1177.

Light steers sold dearly. A pen of Angus steers, estimated 210-230kg, vendor Nindoo Farm Trust, Lakes Entrance, sold at $850.

Friesian steer calves, vendor Craig Fletcher, Meerlieu, sold at $300.

Three pens of 14-16mo bulls sent in by Barry Wood, Woody Group P/L, Bairnsdale, returned a top of $3550 – for a Charolais, bought by a cattle farmer. The bulls averaged $2629.

Heifers held up across the yarding of 2100 cattle.

Angus heifers sent in by Annette Wall, Calulu, sold at $1160.

Stuart Baud, Mt Taylor, sold Angus heifers, $1150.

Angus heifers, 398kg, vendor Oakbank Pastoral, West Stradbroke, sold to $1140.

Neil Cox, Calulu, also sold Angus heifers, at $1060.

Philip and Patrizia Neven, Tubbut, sent in Black Baldy heifers that sold at $1030.

The yarding of cows and calves was mostly in plain condition.

Topping this section, Angus cows with Charolais calves, vendor B&J Herbert, Lindenow South, sold at $1680.

Barry Wood, Woody Group P/L, Bairnsdale, sold Angus cows with calves-at-foot (CAF) to $1660.

N&J Hoare, Calulu, sent in roan cows and calves that sold for $1620.

Ewan Waller, Glenaladale, sold Angus cows with first and third CAF, $1540.

S Sheean, Swifts Creek, sent in Hereford cows with Black Baldy calves, $1420.

Hereford cows joined to an Angus bull, vendor Richard Hughes, Stratford, sold at $955. This was somewhat easier but reflected condition.