Rain over South Australia, Victoria and NSW created a much larger and diverse gallery at the larger than expected yarding offered at Yea last Friday.
A large percentage of the yarding was spring drop steer and heifer calves with many of these being in light, store condition. The large yarding attracted buyers from Mt Gambier, SA, Casterton in the western district, and Coonamble in central NSW. Other Victorian buyers were present, including some from South and west Gippsland.
The noise level was high when one entered the saleyard, which indicated some cattle had not been weaned. These tended to stand out because of their quality and weight, but competition was un-deterred.
Yearling steers made up much of the first lane of cattle. Strong feedlot competition set a solid trend for these, which saw prices range from $1210-$1475. J&J Horn sold 17 Angus steers at the top price, these purchased by a bullock fattener from West Gippsland. However, most of these were purchased for grain feeding.
While some pens of Charolais steers and heifers were yarded, most of the yarding was Angus with an odd pen of Hereford, or other breed thrown in. The quality of the breeding was good throughout.
Turning the corner to the next lane saw buyers presented with many spring drop calves penned. J Canavan, Riverfield, Mansfield, sold the best of these offering 48 calves by Welcome Swallow & Lawson’s Angus bulls, carded as 7 months. These sold for grain feeding at $1150, the second pen for $1020.
This top price was equalled only once, for the tops of 80 Angus steers of Inverugie Pastoral Co, Yea.
However, many, many pens of steers sold from $900 to $1150, which included some very small steers. The sale of these smaller steers was where the sale took a big turn to be much dearer. Purchases went as far as Mt Gambier in SA to Coonamble in NSW, and anywhere in between.
A highlight was the 105 EU accredited Angus steers of Habbies Howe, Highlands, which sold to two bidders wanting to keep them in the EU system.
These very light steers sold from $1030-$1050 with a pen of very young calves making $730. While these steers were estimated to equal over 420 cents per kilogram liveweight, they were no the dearest of the day.
There were other steers, known to weigh under 200kgs lwt that sold up to $920. Some of the larger consignments were BM&MM Griffiths, Seymour, 67 Angus steers from $805-$1090, Webb Past Co, Glenburn, 78 Black Simmental steers from $865-$1010, and MPJ Nominees, Nagambie, 75 Angus steers from $890-$1060.
D Chisholm & Son, Fernside, sold two pens, of only a very small selection of Hereford steers from $970-$1090. Best of the Charolais calves came from Lobru P/L, Murrindindi, with 12 head making $1090.
Garrison feedlot was the strongest bidder, and volume buyer of heifers, aided by other feedlot orders.
Bungle Boori, Seymour, sold 11 yearling Angus heifers to Thomas Foods, for $1190, and TFI paid the top price of $1200 for 16 angus yearlings of J Martin, Nulla Vale.
Because of the strong feedlot competition, and a solid line up of quality Angus & Charolais heifers, many pens sold from $845-$1200.
There was not the volume of multiple pens from one vendor in the sale of heifers, except in the lines of young and lightweight calves. A&I Grant, Nargla Downs, Deniliquin, sold 46 Blonde D’Aquataine heifers from $780-$910, Yencken Past Co, Kooyong, Mansfield, 64 Angus heifers from $79-=$910, and Ballandry Past Co, Strath Creek, 78 Angus-Hereford heifers from $520-$690.
Last but by no means least was a small selection of cows and calves that sold quite well. Balmuttum, Kilmore, sold 11 Angus heifers and calves for $1800, and Garwan Park, Alexandra, 14 Angus cows with their 2nd CAF from $1280-$1660.
