If there was ever a show of faith in the cattle industry, it came to the fore at Euroa last Wednesday.
However, it was an interesting sale, where buyers targeted the large penning of some 700 Pregnancy Tested In Calf (PTIC) females.
I many cases, these, very well grown, rising 2 to 2.5 year old heifers sold better than proven breeders sold later with calves at foot.
Producers were definitely chasing particular bloodlines, as the sale opened to strong demand, but only got better on specific lines.
The buyers list looked a lot like a local and district map with many of the joined females, and cows with calves staying within the area.
While 700 joined heifers and cows seemed like a lot, at the start of the sale, competition proved otherwise, setting some new records for PTIC heifers.
One could argue that the sale opened to tentative bidding, but with S&R Parson, “Wolverton”, Maindample, selling 27 Angus heifers, 26-27 months, PTIC to Riga bulls, to commence calving, February 21, making $2050-$2150, was a good start.
Goodhope Pastoral Company, Bonnie Doon, was next in line, and their first pen sold for $2200. Their 84 heifers sold from $1875 with only two pens under $2000.
Connomara Angus, Ruffy, is very well known, and respected in the area, and coupled with a very good season, these highly sought after heifers, rising 2 years, were very well grown.
Always the crowd favourites, these 73 heifers sold from $2100 to $2625, to average $2385.
When everyone thought this was the top, along came the autumn herd dispersal of J&M Kelly, “Kellybrook”, Euroa. Their 129 head ranged from 2.5 years to 7.5 year old cows, all PTIC.
The older cows sold from $1675-$2075, but the first pen of heifers topped the sale at $2650.
These, and most other females, were in prime condition, and most displayed weights well above a normal year.
Not all producers can present the best, and heaviest cattle, and with the large number of PTIC females on offer, there were opportunities.
Slightly smaller in frame, age, later calving dates, or even different strokes for different folks, saw some sell from $1525-$1880.
The Parkinson Group, Violet Town sold 33 heifers from $1675-$1850, and Reedy Creek Estate, Wallan, sold 74 heifers from $1800-$1850.
Baxa Past Co, Ruffy, sold a pen of spring calving Angus heifers, PTIC to Connomara Angus bulls, for $1375.
Given the strength of competition for joined females, the sale of nearly 200 cows and calves was interesting.
All were proven breeders with calves already on the ground, and the return of money to producers would occur in a shorter time frame.
However, none surpassed the top price of heifers yet to calve. Baxa Past Co, is getting out of cattle, and sold the last of their herd. Selling 30 Connomara Angus bred heifers with calves at foot by the same bloodlines, Brendan & Chrissie Chaff were happy to take the $2050-$2450 paid.
Size does matter, and 12 Angus heifers with their 2nd calf, by Connomara bulls, and re-depastured to same, sold for $2575. Joshma Park sold 12 Angus heifers with their 2nd calf, 3-4 months, for $2500.
Demase farming sold 22 Angus cows with CAF, 4-12 weeks, and re-depastured to a registered Red Angus bull, for $2425.
It may have been sentiment that helped the sale of the Estate of JR Matthews. Ray & Leanne represented their sale of 19 Angus cows with 4th&5th CAF, and PTIC back in calf. These sold from $2100-$2200.
Then the sale progressed on to unjoined females, nearly all of which were 2017 drop heifers. Because of the very good breeding, and the excellent season, all heifers were in peak condition, and some were heavy for their age.
Competition was very strong, aided by one order from Harmony farms, who purchased heifers two different ways.
A few pens of yearling heifers, mostly 12-15 months, sold well making from $920-$1280. Bindarra Meadows sold 10 Angus heifers for $1280, and Merangul, 27 Charolais-Angus heifers for $1275. At the lower end were 52 heifers of Minto Past Co, which had a very hard autumn & winter. these sold from $920-$1080.
All of the yearling heifers sold for the equivalent liveweight price range of 272-308c/kg.
The autumn drop heifers sold to the best competition, equaling a range of 292-350c with the average closer to 325c/kg lwt.
McGeehan & Gall, “Flowerdale”, Euroa, sold 109 heifers from $820 for the youngest, to top price of $1220. Some sales of Charolais-Angus heifers were noted at $1070, including 21 head sold by North Monea, and 22 head of “Warrenhall”.
H&A Cocking, Black Magic Angus, sold 105 heifers 7-9 months, from $830-$1100, and the lighter of these made the best liveweight price.
Despite the heat, numerous buyers stayed until the end, and the younger heifers sold well. Some very young heifers sold from $630-$800, but most sales were noted between $830&$1050.G&P Rowe sold 30 Charolais-Angus & Angus heifers from $830-$1055, and “Ingpen Farms”, 16 Angus heifers for $1030.