THE LAST opportunity to sell store cattle before the annual January calf and female sales here at Barnawartha yards, Wodonga, saw a very mixed offering of 1765 head.
Incoming destinations were very diverse with some cattle consigned from Wannaring, near Burke, and the southern most place was just north of Melbourne.
Of the total offering, 166 were cows and calves, and most were in plain condition, as producers look to make room for summer.
First up was 4 Limousin heifers with their 1st & 2nd calf at foot. Luke Deimel, Paull & Scollard, took a low start, and finished with a healthy $2375 per outfit. JB Ley, Tallangatta, sold 16 Angus cows and calves, 2nd, 3rd and 4th CAF, from $1840-$2000, and The Park Homestead, 3 Angus heifers and calves for $2150.
Away from these, plain condition, and age barriers saw most other cows and calves sell at lower prices. However, that doesn’t mean they went cheaply. Competition was solid, and prices ranging from $1350-$1820 were quite good.
H&D Ronald sold 22 Angus cows and calves from $1550-$1720, and 17 Hereford cows and calves for $1750. G Boyd sold 26 European cross cows with calves at foot to 2 months, from $1350-$1375.
Two sales of heavy yearling steers were noted. T&S Richardson, Talmalmo, sold 6 steers, with 2&4 teeth, for $1460, and Plen Voes, Table Top, 33 Angus steers, 0&2 teeth, for $1420. Both sales were a little cheaper.
Other yearling steers were seen throughout the offering, although not many carried a lot of weight. South Bullenbong, The Rock, sold a range of Charolais-Angus, and other European cross breeds from $1080-$1280.
Steers that were younger, and of good breeding, sold to strong competition. JB Ley, Tallangatta, sold 75 Angus steers, 351-395kgs, from $1170-$1310.
D&L Cameron & son, Bowna, sold 25 Hereford steers from $1035-$1100, and J&K Knipping, Chiltern, 17 Angus steers for $1200.
Two examples of lighter weight steers, of good breeding, sold to increased competition. MP&S Antonello, Buffalo Creek, sold 88 Angus steers, Rennylea blood, 246-324kgs, from $955-$1115. The lightest calves equaled 388c/kg lwt, which was a very good sale.
Out of the high country, Beloka Past Co, Benambra, sold 30 Hereford calves from $800-$930, which were excellent sales.
There was two sides to the sale of heifers. Yearling, and heavier heifers sold to poor demand, and were cheaper, while younger, and lighter heifers, while cheaper, sold to better competition.
Three yearling heifers, 0-2 teeth, and 533kgs, sold for $1265, and other yearlings mostly 380-430kgs, sold from $1060-$1100, or 245-266c/kg lwt.
Maracket, Talmalo, sold 47 Angus heifers, 250-292kgs, from $790-$920, and Georgewood, Tallangatta, 23 Angus heifers, Pathfinder & Ireland Angus blood, for $885. These few sales equaled just over 300c/kg lwt, and were among the better priced on the day.
Roslynvale, Culcairn, sold 40 Angus heifers, Rossrich & Rennylea blood, sold from $830-$925.