Yarding: 1198
Joined heifers: 155 x 8
Heifers: 1013
Cows and calves: 30 x 31.
Older heifers have sold to $1575 on the second day of Colac’s Best in the West Special sale.
Agents offered a draft of joined heifers, which sold to $2600, for the first pen offered at the auction, a/c V&B Stewart.
The 12, two and a half year old Angus heifers, Te Mania bld, were depastured to Wilgungah bulls for February to March calving.
Another 12, two year old Limousin/Angus cross heifers, a/c D&S Kent, PTIC to Roselea Angus bulls sold for $2050.
Colac Stock Agents Association president Phil Douglas said joined heifers sold very well, with most going back to local producers.
The heavier end of the weaner heifers went to feedlotters or back to producers looking to join them.
Mid-range cattle went to Yea, South Australia and exporters.
“I thought our Euros were on value, probably a little bit softer than last year, and I thought our lighter end of the heifers could have been better.
“There were a number of northern buyers there, but not buying the numbers we have seen in the last couple of years.”
He said feedlotters were active at Colac but were sticking to a tight price range.
“There was no trotting the job along for ten, fifteen or twenty dollars. They were strong, but weren’t going to go over their limit, so a lot of it would be the $2.60 to $2.70 mark, in the lighter end. The heavier end could be 15 to 20 cents better
Charles Stewart Colac’s Matt Nelson said he was pleased with the sale.
“Last year was probably an exception, so I think it has corrected itself a little bit, but I thought it was pretty good,” Mr Nelson said.
“Garrison bought a few of the lighter heifers, Harmony bought a few for export and there was a bit of local competition.”
Other good prices, received for joined heifers, were $2200 for a pen of eight Solaburst two year olds, depastured to a Limousin bull, due to calve at the end of the month.
He said the top pen, nine 16 month old Burnbrae Pastoral Angus heifers, Murdeduke bld, weighing 486kg, sold to $1575, or 324c/kg.
Among the weaners, Daryl Hoffman sold a pen of 13, 352 kg, nine to 10 month old Murdeduke bld heifers for $1250, or 344c/kg.
A pen of 15 Hazeldean and Pathfinder bld, late February-March drop heifers, a/c MA & AL Howard also sold for $1250.
J&D Osbourne offered 12, 353kg Weeran bld, February-March drop heifers, selling them for $1150, or 325c/kg. JD Thompson sold a pen of 27 Stoneyford bld, 10-11 month old heifers, weighing 333kg, for $1060, or 318c/kg.
A lighter pen of 22 The Basin bld March-April drop heifers, a/c JH Smith and sons, sold for $1050, or 334c/kg. Similarly, a pen of 14 Weeran bld, February March drop heifers, a/c JD Osbourne, weighing 303kg, sold for 300c/kg.
Winner of the best presented pen of weaners, Rod Kemp, Rodlo Investments, sold a pen of 10 Rossander bld heifers, weighing 376kg, for $1210, or 321c/kg.
He said he believed the pen was adjudged the best on the basis of the animals’ appearance and extra information he gave on their provenance.
“The more information you give these days the more people appreciate it - especially in the case of heifers, where they might be taking them home to breed from,” Mr Kemp said.
Based at Forrest, he said the country had been “a bit cold over winter, with the frosts we have had.
“Fortunately, I have got a bit of river flats.
“The property is an ex-dairy farm, the river flats are providing excellent feed; I’ve got clover and ryegrass there.
“I have learned not to overstock or understock, and in the cold conditions give them plenty of hay, so their bellies are full and they are quiet.”
He said prices were back on last year.
“They would have made $1320, this year I was hoping for $1100, about $200 down, and I got $1210, so you have to be happy with that.”
Byron Kershaw, Buckley, achieved top price for the Euro heifers, making $1100 for a pen of 17 Charolais/Angus cross, 10-11 month old, Mount William bld weaners
“The way things have gone, you would have expected things to drop back a little bit, but the weights are still there, which is really good,” Mr Kershaw said.
Among the Herefords, MG and HH Smith sold eight Swayne blood 10-11month old weaners, weighing 300kg, for $860.
Cows with calves at foot sold for up to $2400 – with a Charolais/Angus unit, a/c D&S Kent, selling for the top price.