Wodonga
Yarding: 2695 + 150 calves
Grown steers to $1515
Heifers to $1080
PRICES were up at last Thursday’s Wodonga store sale compared with a fortnight ago.
The sale kicked off with cows and calves including the herd dispersal of Indi Mitchell Trust, Brindabelle, Towong Upper. Its draft of 132 Angus cows, Lawsons and Llandario blood, topped at $2150 for a pen of 31 third calver cows with 32 calves at-foot, and averaged $1932 for cows up to eight years-old.
There was a small selection of in-calf females, including 18 second calving black baldy cows pregnancy tested in-calf to an Angus bull consigned by CC & GM Bouchier, Lucyvale. Dick Forrest bought them on behalf of daughter Annie and granddaughter Olivia. He said they were big, well grown-out cows that should calve down easily. He said the $1440 he paid was reasonable for quality cows at the point of calving.
Older steers topped at $1515 for 36 Poll Hereford steers, average weight 521 kilograms, 0-2 teeth, consigned by PCK Paton, Tallangatta. Its second pen of 14 at 460kg made $1350, and vendor Phillip Paton was very happy with these prices.
Peter Ruaro, Peter Ruaro Livestock, said it was a strong sale throughout the yarding. He said prices exceeded expectations and that was particularly evident in the lighter proportion of weaner types. Competition was strong for weaner steers, the run of which started with two pens of Angus steers sold by Anvil Angus, Acheron. The first pen of 13 at 379kg made $1260 and the next of 13 at 340kg made $1160, and the equivalent of 333 cents/kg and 341c/kg respectively.
A & S Lovick, Merrijig, sold 15 Angus steers, Te Mania bld, August/September-drop, av 280kg, to $1090, and a second pen of 10 at 261kg for $1040, or 389c/kg and 398c/kg.
The run of Hereford and Hereford-cross steers topped at $1060 for a pen of six Poll Herefords and black baldies sold by P Browne, Bonegilla, to commission buyer Peter Toohey. BE & JA Elliot, Talgarno Park, sold 12 Poll Hereford steers, 313kg for $1020, or 326c/kg.
The Euro-infused lines kicked off with Riverland Pastoral’s seven Charolais-Angus cross steers, 372kg, that were sold for $1180 also to Mr Toohey.
Mr Ruaro said females sold very well, with most heifers making 300-320c/kg.
Indi Mitchell Trust also sold Angus heifers including 18 at 355kg for $1145 to an Elders Yea account, and 12 at 313kg at $945. LK & MA Thiele, Benalla, sold 16 Angus heifers, Jade Park and Ireland bld, June/July-drop, 305kg, for $920 to Mr Tooey.
Mr Ruaro said as well as commission buyers, restockers were also active buoyed by recent rain and the end of financial year.