There were three sales held in the high country, Tuesday, March 13, with Sharp Fullgrabe first, offering 1562 head at the Hinnomunjie saleyards.
The dry season bolstered supply here, and the yarding was arguably the largest offering seen at these yards.
One thing was certain here, and that was the largest crowd seen, although many were here to see how this first sale of the day would go.
Competition was swelled by northern competition, and a live export order, and these two buyers put a floor in the market for light to medium weight steers.
Jim Pendergast, “Penderscourt”, Benambra, held his usual spot at the start of the sale, and offered steers 12-14 months of age.
These Hereford steers sold to a repeat buyer, who paid $1100-$1240/head.
The third pen of Penderscourt steers were younger, and lighter, and made $1170.
Overall buyers came from Colac, to the Riverina, and Coonamble, NSW, was mentioned too.
A South Australian backgrounder, and feedlot, purchased some of the heifers.
Brian Dyer, “Narben”, Benambra, was awarded the best presented pen of Hereford steers by Herefords Australia, with the pen selling for $1100, with his 84 head making $915 and over.
LH&SE Pendergast was the larger vendor, selling over 200 steers of Angus, Charolais-cross, and Angus-Hereford breeding.
The youngest of these sold for $720, and made up to $1080 in a very good sale.
R&H Bowman sold Charoalis-Hereford steers to $1100, the successful purchaser being Cameron and Davis, Gunnedah.
The beauty of these Mountain Calf Sales is the breeding of the cattle, which for some vendors, goes back generations.
This is what inspires some of the buyers to return year after year.
B&K Sievers sold 54 Charolais-cross steers of lighter weight, and younger age, from $860-$1100.
P&S Soutter sold 89 Hereford steers from $925-$1080, and the older of the Connley family, R&H Connley, sold 60 young Hereford calves from $1020-$1045. Such was the strength of the competition.
While Benambra has had the best of a poor season in the high country, the cattle here, are generally born from May to July. This puts some of the prices into better perspective.
RAP&HE Bowman sold Charolais-Hereford heifers for the market top of $1030.
Because of the strong competition, most of these younger heifers sold between $760-$970, with only a few pens of light weights selling upwards from $650.
The well-bred Hereford heifers of Brian Dyer sold from $720-$900, with a pen of Angus-Herefords at $810.
The future of many of the heifers lies in the balance, with most heading for slaughter later in their young life.
Some went to feedlots, and plenty to backgrounders for future feeding.
The potential to buy these later for breeding will be almost impossible.