Weaner steer buyers have had to revise their budgets following an unexpected jump in prices at the Elders-Landmark Hereford and Euro steer sale at Hamilton on Thursday.
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The 200 cents barrier was broken for the first time this year with Wellington, NSW, bullock producer Paul Mason again the dominant force, paying 207c/kg or $696 for a pen of Red Star Herefords from the Pepper family’s Lochredal, Tahara.
The Hereford steers have been the shining light all week.
And as the weight went down in the Herefords, the prices rose. The Peppers’ second run of 56 steers weighing 336kg made the top money to Mr Mason, the equivalent of $695. The Peppers’ 371kg tops made 178c or $660.
After the sale, most estimated prices of most steers to range from 165-185c/kg, to average in the mid-170s.
The sale started with a supurb line-up of Charolais steers, amounting to one-and-a-half lanes of the Hamilton yards.
Glenayre sold 15 421kg Charolais by Delaware, Mt William and Temana bulls for 176c or $741 to Colonial.
Landmark’s John Lawson said the market was stronger than anticipated, describing it as “solid from start to finish”.
“They’ve all got new homes. We breed them down here to sell and the very good season has shown in the calves. I’d say the market was 2-8 cents a kg better than earlier in the week.”
*Full report in Stock & Land, January 14.
