Big lines of cattle from regular vendors were expected to feature again, at next year’s Warrnambool weaner sale.
Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Glenn Judd said the January 19 sale was expected to feature between 3500 and 4000 head of cattle, from Heywood, to Hawkesdale and across to Port Campbell.
In previous years, about 10-15 farmers had each offered up lines of between 150-200 cattle, and 2018 was likely to be the same.
“We will have the biggest lines again, like we did last year,” Mr Judd said. “We had 3200 last year and I reckon we will be easily be on target to be the same.”
He said he, and JJ Kelly and Co’s Jack Kelly had visited a number of properties and were impressed by what they saw.
“Our calves will have a bit of weight on them, they are very consistent and very even,” Mr Judd said.
‘They don’t have the big contrast of tops and bottoms.”
He said he expected regular buyers, from South Australia and northern feedlots, to be in the gallery.
“Hopefully they will turn up and will continue turning up – our numbers are going to be very solid on what we had last year.”
Mr Kelly said the cattle were looking very good.
“We have had quite a wet winter here and it’s been nice to get a good spring,” Mr Kelly said.
“I think numbers might be up a little, even though last year was a very, very good year.
“Some of the vealers we have been handling have been looking very good.”
In 2017, strong local buying was the key to the mixed sex weaner sale.
Steers sold well but heifers were a stand-out, attracting great interest.
Steer prices reached a sale high of $1572 a head while heifer rates averaged 364c/kilogram.
The yarding, like most other weaner sales in the Western District, offered plenty of weight.
