A VERY large yarding offered at Wodonga on Thursday created a few questions and a few answers. A number of large consignments of steers and heifers were penned, all from north of the Victorian border.
They came mostly from Hay, Urana, Holbrook, and Adelong, but one consignment of 260 head came from south-western Queensland.
Market trends have not been the best in NSW and Queensland, and as Wodonga is considered a solid market close to the major buyers, producers sent the cattle to where the money is. There was even one consignment from South Australia.
The yarding had a high percentage of heifers and other female cattle penned. A large crowd bid tentatively at the start of the steers, and several agents said the prices were a little cheaper than recent sales at Wodonga.
However, demand improved, especially for some EU accredited steers, and specific breeders lines of heifers. While the opening sales were a little cheaper, most of the steers sold at solid levels, and the better quality heifers sold at firm to dearer rates. Some of the smaller and plainer heifers were hard to sell.
A pen of Hereford steers, 16-17 months, and sold by GD Waters, Tooma, topped the sale making $810, the 41 head averaged $793. McPhee Properties, Bungowannah sold 49 Angus steers, Scott’s blood, to $780, av $759. Only a small portion of the steers were over 13 months of age and sold between $610 for crossbred steers to the top price of $810.
Competition came from as far south as South Gippsland, across to Ballarat, and north to Young in NSW. These buyers were accompanied by feedlot buyers purchasing cattle for immediate feeding, and some to be backgrounded for later on.
There were a few large drafts, and most were purchased without being split. Some lots included 105 head of cattle.
A good representation of the yarding could be seen in the larger lines. AI&AM Bouchier, Burrongong, Urana, sold 247 steers which were a mixture of Angus, Rennylea & Murraguldrie blood, and Charolais-Angus steers. The heaviest steers weighed 446 kilograms liveweight making $785 with most making $580-$722, av $644.
Brunsdon Pastoral Co, Round Box, Hay, sold 297 steers, predominately Angus, 11-13mth. Theses sold from $545-$702, av $618. At the heavier end of the weaned steers was T&A Clancy, Willow Park, Bowna, who sold 100 Angus steers, Rennlea bld, 11-12mth, to $738, av $723.
J&S Osmin, Omicron Station, Thargomindah, Queensland, sent 223 Hereford-Angus & Angus steers to Wodonga, which arrived the previous Saturday. Buyers purchased these steers, which were well curfued, from $475-$662, av $550. The liveweight comparisons were 195c to 237c/kg.
Roche Past Co, Werrona, Adelong, sent 110 Hereford and Angus steers, which sold between $510 & $685 t average $614. One other large consignment came from Delta Station, Jerilderie. These 206 angus & Angus-Santa Gertrudis steers sold from $450- $656, av $577.
The yarding of heifers included a lot of 10-12mth heifers with many in forward store to prime condition. These sold to feedlots, processors and producers from $570-$695. AJ Linder, Wooragee, sold 26 Angus heifers, Alpine Angus bld to $695, av $642. These and a number of other better bred heifers sold from 160c to 172c/kg lwt.
Mylora Past Co, Binalong, sold 319 Angus heifers, Dulverton bld, to repeat and new buyers from $324-$495, av $410. Delta Station offered 270 Hereford, Angus and Angus-Santa Gertrudis heifers, which made from $380-$550, av $449.
From the South Australian consignment, Toondilla Holdings, Clarendon, sold 81 Santa-Gertrudis-Angus heifers, which were only young calves. These made from $205 to $380, av $275.
The pick of the joined heifers sold between $610 and $870, the top price went to Nyangay, Booroorban, who sold 20 Murray Grey heifers PTIC to similar bulls for $870, and they also sold 28 claves heifers from $955-$985, all of these cattle were purchased by a South Gippsland producer.
Mundoora Farms, Coleambally, sold Angus heifers with CAF by Scott’s Angus bulls to 2mths for the top price of $1160. Most others sold between $750- $1050.
