Landmark EGL held their annual autumn weaner cattle sale at Bairnsdale last Friday, to a smaller crowd of buyers with most coming from Gippsland. Thomas Foods and Garrison feedlot were the only two outsiders making purchases, and local processor competition also helped.
D&P Luckock opened the sale offering eight Hereford yearling steers in very good condition. These sold to the sale’s top price of $1470.
Several feature lines of steers filled many of the pens, and numerous buyers came to again buy these steers they know finish very well.
SR&MC Beasley, “Emu Park”, Lindenow, sold 171 Angus steers in their annual draft. Competition for these was very strong, which saw them sell from $880-$1135, to average $994.
These prices equalled 312-332 cents per kilogram liveweight, which was the trend for most of the Angus steers. A couple of strong orders aided this outcome.
DA&J Cameron sold 41 Angus steers, Leawood blood, from $950-$1095, and AF Sheridan & Partners, 69 Angus steers, EU accredited, from $880-$1020. Gary Owen, Leongatha, purchased all three pens and kept them in the EU system.
Moving on to the first drafts of Hereford steers saw competition ease. While this trend has not been seen over the early months of 2016, there was a difference here at this sale. Numerous pens sold from $920-$1100, P&J Sykes, Gelantipy selling 28 steers $1020-$1100, and the top two pens of “Kent Park” steers also making $1100.
G&P Brown, “Kent Park”, sold a total of 145 Hereford steers, Newcomen & Basford blood, for an average of $943, which equalled 306c/kg for the top two pens, but 280-292c/kg for most others.
When crunching the numbers, most of the Hereford steers sold within this liveweight price range. Some had their weights displayed, some quotes are estimates.
A few members of the Woodgate families from Gelantipy, sold Hereford steers from $760-$940.
Feedlot competition was stronger for several pens of Charolais steers, which saw all sell for over 300c/kg lwt. RD&EL Hammond sold 16 steers to $1160, RW&P Savoury, 31 Charolais steers from $1020-$1150, and A&K Henderson, 21 steers from $1000-$1110. Halstons Past Co sold 53 Charolais-Angus steers of lighter weight from $780-$875.
Most of the heifers offered were in quite good condition, and of a weight that suited processors. This aided a solid sale for most of the heifers, which generally sold between $560 & $870.
Top of the heifers was two Charolais heifers, sold by A&K Henderson. These made $1010, their nine lighter weight heifers for $950.
Bridles Better Beef, Genoa, sold quality yearling Hereford heifers for $890, which was good for the purchaser. Feedlot competition was strong for many heifers. Garrison feedlot purchased heifers to feed, and heifers to background for later feeding.
DA&J Cameron sold 47 Angus heifers from $825-$935, and Holstons Past Co, 36 Charolais-Angus heifers from $620-$755. P Hayward sold 34 Angus young Angus heifers of light weights. These made from $520-$605.
While competition was okay, until it rains in West and South Gippsland, buyers will not return to store sales in their droves. Normally the quality at this sale attracts more buyers from the Thorpdale district, but when looking at the paddocks in this area, it is no wonder buyers were absent.
Given the very good season in East Gippsland, some good competition was seen from local producers and agents.
However, it is heading toward winter, and although pastures are very good throughout most of the eastern area, there are a lot of cattle from further west on agistment. This has taken some of the demand for cattle away here.
Geoff and Patricia Brown, “Kent Park”, were hoping for better competition for their annual draft of Hereford steers, but as they averaged nearly $250 more than 2015, he was happy. with this year’s result.
