The penultimate sale of the Elders Mountain Cattle sale has been completed, and could possibly have been the better of all four sales held by Elders over Tuesday and Wednesday.
Selling close to 9,000 head over the two days creates a lot of hard work by a large team of people from all areas of the livestock community.
The weather was a treat and everything went smoothly, or at least all of the hard work gave that appearance.
Wednesday afternoon at Omeo, Elders offered around 3,000 hereford cattle, and with the season being so good in the high country, the cattle were generally in better stead that 2015.
This alone aided some higher prices, but there was excellent competition for all cattle, which saw some steers sell up to $200 per head higher than last year.
Competition was enhanced by one Gippsland bullock fattener who purchased a good share of the heavier steers.
Their competition was not uncontested with several buyers vying for supply.
PC&CG Faithfull, who sold a total of 122 steers, 11-16 months, was paid the sale’s top price of $1340.
There are many favourites here in the mountains when selecting bloodlines, and particular breeders cattle.
However, it was pleasing to see that Mawarra Hereford stud were self promoting, by putting Mawarra stickers on pen cards of vendors who has used their progeny.
Following up on this, was a comment from Steve Rennie, Livestock Manager for Coles, wanted to pass on his support for “The Tick”.
Displayed on the pen cards throughout the Elders sales was a big tick over, the words, “Vendor Bred, Grassfed, No Antibiotics”.
All of these traits are needed for any steer fattener entering a grass assured program.
It was fair to note that two Coles buyers were present, but they were only showing their faces.
However, competition was very good and most steers sold between $1000 & $1340, or 320-350c/kg lwt.
Heifers sold to strong competition too.
Some of the best quality heifers were purchased for slaughter, some were purchased by locals for future breeders, and many were bought for future grain feeding in South Australia.
WC Flannagan sold heifers for $1150 to a local producer, and several other pens sold from $970-$1100 for similar reasons.
The best of the Hereford-Shorthorn heifers sold for $1060, and most other heifers made from $820-$960, or 285-320c/kg lwt.