Good quality led to solid prices in the first of the all breeds calf sales at the NVLX’s Barnarwartha saleyard.
Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, offered a modest yarding of 1870 steers and heifers, which did include some yearlings.
Most of the cattle had been weaned, and weaned well with conformation and condition a stand out.
Leading the sale was T&S Randall, Lagoona, selling 16 of 68 Hereford & Hereford-Angus steers, 14-16 months. Competition was light, but demand was solid, and these steers, 350-478 kilograms liveweight, sold from $1070-$1460.
BM Hewitt & TL Justin, Upper Gundowring, sold 43 Hereford steers from $1380-$1440, and most yearling steers equaled 290-312c/kg.
While there was a broad spectrum of areas represented in the buying gallery, one buyer from Scone, NSW, and Landmark International, for a future live export order, traveled the distance. Most of the competition came from local and surrounding districts.
Honours of top price for of the 2017 drop steer calves went to Rangan Charolais, Charleroi, selling 22 Charolais steers, 427kgs, for $1310. M&E Truner, Red Bluff, equaled this top price for 11 Charolais-Angus steers, but theirs weighed 444kgs lwt.
Over the past twelve months, competition for European breed cattle to grain feed, has waned, and this lack of competition was noticed today.
Formally selling at rates well above all other breeds, European breeds now equal that of most others.
McGahy Pastoral Co, Yarck, sold 65 Webb’s & Brewer’s Black Simmental cross steers from $1120-$1270, 308-312c/kg lwt. Brewer Beef, Tallangatta South, sold 44 Black Simmental steers from $1130-$1285.
Raheen Park Partnership, Merrijig. Their 59 Angus-Hereford steers sold from $1080-$1195, or 323-343c/kg lwt.
Top of the Hereford weaned steers, was GF&DM Cummerford, Mansfield, selling 50 Poll Hereford steers from $1105-$1155. Not far from there, also from Mansfield, was Brooklyn Past Co, selling 94 steers from $965 for light, young steers, to $1145.
Demand for lightweight steers shone through again this week. Glenalbyn Properties, Bromore Station, Wilcannia, sold 19 Hereford steers, 231kgs, for $880, and 85 Shorthorn steers from $755-$1015 with the lightest steers, 188kgs, equaling 402c/kg lwt.
Demand for heifers varied, and similar to the previous week, prices were very solid. A few buyers commented that heifers, being heifers, sold very well compared to their brothers.
Top of the heifers was M&E Turner, Red Bluff, selling 22 Charolais-Angus heifers, by Rangan Charolais bulls. These sold for $1135. Equal to this was McGahy Past Co, Yarck, selling Webb’s & Brewer’s Black Simmental bred heifers to $1135 with a pen of 39 head making $1030.
Many of the Charolais & Charolais cross heifers sold from $945 to the top price, and equaled 287-300c/kg lwt. Granite Flat Past Co, Mitta Mitta, sold 53 Charolais, and Charolais cross heifers from $990-$1020. RG McCall&Sons, Mia Mia, Daysdale, sold Simmental cross heifers from $925-$995.
A pen of 10 Charolais cross heifers, offered by Deepdale-Tallarook P/L, 252kgs, sold for $830, or 329c/kg lwt.
