CHRISTMAS has come and gone, and now February 1 saw Wodonga agents offer their first regular store cattle sale for 2018 at the NVLX Barnawartha.
Corcoran Parker, Elders and Landmark offered a small yarding of 1117 head, which included 87 cows and calves.
Some excellent quality cows and calves were penned, especially two consignments of Angus cows with quality, older calves at foot.
DA Anderson, Wangaratta, offered eight Angus cows with calves to eight months, and “Delta”, Jerilderie, 23 Angus cows with 24 Limousin calves at foot. Both lots had been rejoined. Both lots of cows were in very good condition and of heavy weight.
Whether this was a distraction to potential buyers, or not, they sold for $2250 and $1980 respectively.
Bullock Holdings, Braidwood, offered a run of 47 Angus-Hereford, and Angus cows, in plain condition with only young Angus calves at foot, but also scanned back in calf. These sold very well making from $1740-$2200.
Following these was a line of 62 Angus cows, second to fifth calvers, offered by “Allandale”, Jerilderie, property sold.
These cows were in prime condition weighing from 669-760 kilograms liveweight. In calf to Pathfinder and Tulagi Angus bulls, they sold from $1630-$2540.
A small selection of heavy steers sold to a feedlot buyer from $1220-$1385, equaling the January sales.
There was a smaller field of buyers for the balance of the steers, which included a few lighter weight yearlings, autumn 2017 drop steers and young calves.
Supply of the steers was scattered with local and Riverina steers penned, and one consignment came from Talagra, near Goulburn.
Buyers came mostly from local areas with one order from Coonamble.
Feedlot competition was reasonable, but for a restricted selection of steers.
Generally, prices were lower than end of January but still quite reasonable. Most steers sold from $855-$1145.
Markglen Farms, Holbrook, sold 57 Angus steers from $1005-$1120, and RT Mouat, Khancoban, 32 Angus steers, Beartooth blood, from $870-$1050.
Most steers sold between 285 and 320c/kg lwt. The exception to this were two drafts of young calves.
The Estate of AE, and DJ Kolhagen, Tintaldra, sold 35 Angus steers calves, 5-7 months, from $735-$875, and Bannaby Angus, Taralga, NSW, 54 Angus calves from $630-$790. Both lots sold in a range of 337-366c/kg.
For something different, potential buyers were offered 10 Santa Gertrudis-Angus steers, offered for sale by E&L Hamilton Pty Ltd, Berringama. These sold for $1085. The same vendor sold Charolais steers to $1030.
Some very good quality Limousin-Angus steers of JK Cooper, Rutherglen, sold for $1090, or 277c/kg lwt.
Considering the current fat market, a pen of Friesian steers, 409kgs, sold well, making $835, or just over 200c/kg lwt.
The good quality offering of heifers sold to mixed demand with yearling heifers cheaper and younger heifers equal to, or better than, their brothers.
Having said this a few pens were purchased for slaughter, being equal to, or cheaper than those in fat sales, which have lifted this week.
B&D Bruce sold 15 good quality, Limousin-Angus heifers from $1045-$1150, or 248c/kg and over. P&S Humphrey sold 10 Yearling Angus heifers for $1045.
Selling to better competition were heifer vealers at 280-370kgs with some purchased for slaughter. Most of the reason for this was an increase in price for vealers earlier in the week.
JK Cooper sold Limousin-Angus heifers for $1025, RT Mouat, 25 Angus heifers for $995, and R&M Cheesley, 27 Charolais-Angus heifers from $760-$930. All were in a liveweight range of 276-291c/kg.
It was tougher from then on though with several sales of secondary, but reasonably good quality heifers from $780-$1055, equaling only 235-253c/kg lwt.
The heifer calves, mates to the good quality steer calves, sold from $550-$750, all in the low to middle 300c/kg lwt range.