Yarded: 1840
Joinable heifers 315-325c/kg, top 339c/kg
HEIFERS offered at “joinable” weights attracted strong inquiry, selling to 339c/kg at the Elders and Landmark Combined Heifer Weaner sale at Casterton on Thursday.
Buyers seeking future breeders were prominent on any heifers meeting the weights to go back to the paddock.
While the buyer numbers were limited, the strength came from areas represented by Mount Gambier, Euroa, Benalla, Albury, Penola and a strong local contingent including Casterton, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Bordertown and Edenhope. Hardwicks were also busy on suitable lighter heifers.
Landmark’s Rick Smith said the heavier end of the yarding sold at a premium of 15 to 30c/kg, or consistently between 310 and 330c/kg for joinable lots.
He said the middle draft of heifers sold mostly between 290 and 300c/kg and the lighter end found support between 265 and 280c/kg.
Breeders also paid a premium for cattle from selected bloodlines to bolster their breeding herds.
Sam Boothby, Elders Casterton, said that after an excellent season there was plenty of feed and water in many areas resulting in fewer numbers coming forward than advertised.
He said local breeders had held onto the heifers to build herd numbers on farm.
Kicking off the sale was a lane of excellent Angus heifers with the top pen of the day being a line of 41 Angus Pathfinder blood heifers sold account Kelvin and Julie Bateman, Baroona, Dunrobin.
The heifers weighed an average 343kg a head and went for 339c/kg or $1165 a head to repeat buyers Colin and Jayden Rogers, Kalangadoo, SA, who were “extremely happy” with the 2017 drop which were now on the point of calving.
The tops of the Baroona heifers this year were marginally lighter by 12kg than 2017, the seconds were the same as 2017 while the thirds were around 38kg heavier this year.
Next best was a pen of 13 Angus Banquet and Dollar blood heifers weighing 351kg and sold account Aigle for 320c/kg or $1122.
Other good prices included a pen of 24 Angus heifers 334kg sold account Marlan that made 325c/kg or $1086 for the tops and 313c/kg for the the lighter pen of 24 weighing 288kg.
In the Hereford section the best of the day was a pen of 22 heifers account Butchers that sold for 306c/kg or $1047 on average weights of 342.
Karingal sold 16 heifers, Injemira and Yarram Park blood at 306c/kg or $980 while K.S., M. and G. Davies sold 21 heifers for 313c/kg or $973 a head.
Blink Bonnie’s two lines of Hereford heifers sold for 313c/kg 30 weighing 289kg and 324c/kg at 257kg, or $958 and $834 respectively.
In the Euro X section of the yarding a pen of 6 Charolais cross heifers weighing 319kg sold at 286c/kg, or $1120 a head.
A pen of 24 Limousin cross heifers 361kg sold account Lyndon Lea went for 276c/kg or $998. Corinya Park, Wando Vale, sold 18 Murray Grey heifers, 303kg for 286c/kg, or $867 to Hardwicks.