Commencing on a reasonable to good quality offering of yearling steers, which were included in the offering of 3774 head, saw strong feedlot competition set a good trend for the day at the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange.
Teys Australia, purchased numerous pens, and at least three other companies opened their books.
GL Prichard Nominees, Castle Creek, sold 25 Angus-Hereford steers, 14-16 months, for $1460, and many other pens, from numerous vendors, sold upward from $1260.
Ried Trust, “Chudliegh”, Howlong, sold 23 Hereford steers, 14-16 months, for $1410, T&E Kirk, Barwidgee Creek, 17 Angus cross steers from $1280-$1435, and Mundoora Past Co, Jerilderie, 62 Hereford steers from $1280-$1410.
The surprising outcome was that most sold at rates equal to 292-307 cents per kilogram liveweight.
Reports from the Western District the previous day, indicated that prices would be easier here at Barnawartha. However, this was not the case, as most 2017 autumn drop steers sold for the equivalent of 307-359c/kg.
Many of the steer calves weighed between 340&427kgs lwt, and their condition was very good. It was a site to see, as there are few sales these days where one can see several lanes of Herefords line up.
A&K Heinecke, “Courabyra”, Tumburumba, sold 34 Hereford, and Hereford-Angus steers from $1260-$1285. Repeat buyers operated openly throughout the sale, and for Trevor Ralston, ND&T Ralston, “Hollywood”, Euroa, his prices were from $1090-$1260, for 72 head.
Also selling to strong competition was the 108 Hereford and Hereford-Angus steers of DH&MA Trethowan, “Wentworth”, Cookardinia. These sold from $1030-$1150, or 330-354c/kg lwt.
Competition for steers for steers purchased by feedlots, to either grain feed, or background for future feeding, was very strong.
Included in the larger penning were numerous pens of Charolais steers, and their crosses, Black Simmental and Hick’s Composite steers, and some Limousin steers.
Creek Past Co, Rand, NSW, sold 24 Charolais steers, 393kgs, Rangan blood, for $1220. The Rangan Charolais bloodlines were noted in many pens of steers, and most of these sold between $1130&$1220.
Top of the price list for the 2017 drop steer calves was “Georgewood”, Tallangatta, selling 33 Blax Black Simmental-Angus steers from $1070-$1295.
Glencoe Past Co, Holbrook, sold 48 steers, by Hick’s Composite bulls, from $1075-$1200, and LR Edney, Levena, sold 17 Black Simmental steers to $1290.
Very few steers sold below $1000, HM Campbell, Koetong, sold 54 Hereford, and Angus-Hereford steers from $930-$1010.
Milbrook Stud, Alexandra, offered 75 lightweight Hereford steers, in plain store condition. These sold to solid competition, making from $800-$960.
The sale of yearling and younger heifers was another story. Despite some solid competition, prices were cheaper, generally over all weights and condition.
At the bottom end were some very good condition yearling heifers that sold to $1000, or just over 238c/kg lwt. At the top end was three pens of lightweight, store condition Angus heifers, which were offered by Brigalows Past Co, Cudgewa, selling 110 head for $760. All were weighed, and they equaled 327-394c/kg lwt.
In between were many pens of heifers selling from $820 to yearling heifers at $1190.
GL Prichard, sold their entire drop of 138 Angus-Hereford, and Angus-Shorthorn, EU accredited heifers from $820-$1100. Princess Royal Station purchased the top two or three pens to head to South Australia. Over all of the Prichard heifers, liveweight prices equaled 280-328c/kg.
This result was a good indication of the spread of liveweight prices, but most sold from 270-295c/kg lwt.