New records were set for F1 females at Wodonga, Wednesday, in a combined agents sale that produced a small yarding of 649 head, plus calves.
A preference of Angus-Friesian and Hereford Friesian cross females may be considered to be waning. This year’s F1 female sale was smaller, which can be partly attributed to the poor price for prime European cross vealers in 2015 and early 2016.
These F1 females take time, care and money to get to the stage of having a calf, and the return price for vealers back then saw some farmers opting out of this enterprise. However, there is still light at the end of the tunnel.
Well noted for setting the top price is Gino and Rita Mizi, Genrik Park, Goorambat, and they gained the top spot again this year. Gino and Rita, live with their heifers, especially during calving.
The effort they put into their cattle is rewarded at sale time with repeat buyers setting the pace.
This year they sold 36 Angus&Hereford-Friesian heifers, 2.5 years, calved 4-9 weeks to a top stud Limousin bull. Genrik Park’s Hereford-Friesian heifers again topped the sale making $3125, and their heifers sold from a base of $2500, to average $2828.
Paul and Vicki Hourigan, Everton, are another regular seller at this sale, and they sold some excellent quality Angus-Hereford heifers and calves from $2690-$3000, av $2852.
It is fair to say that the supply of F1 females has fallen away over the past few years, and with some of the regular sellers of F1’s going out of dairying, supply could remain low into the future.
Competition matched the supply, but potential buyers, mostly from local districts, bid well for the best quality, known cattle, but demand waned for later calving and younger heifers. Prices varied between $2100 & $3125 for calved heifers, and $1860-$2325 for calved cows.
This sale offers buyers calved heifers and cows, spring and joined heifers, plus unjoined heifers. The springing heifer sale offered some excellent drafts of heifers, best described as large frame, roomy heifers in top condition.
A top price of $2510 was paid for nine Angus-Friesian heifers, 2.5 years, incalf to a Limousin bull.
These were part of a consignment from Ingledale Holdings who sold 19 head from $1960 to the top price.
Most of the heifers sold from $1900-$2480 with several vendors selling at the higher price. P&V Hourigan sold 24 Angus-Friesian heifers from $2360-$2480.
Charlock Partnership, Charleroi, was the largest vendor selling 93 spring heifers, Feb-Mar calving. These heifers sold from $1890-$2400.
The further away from calving the less competition. WM&LN Stafford, Benalla, sold 22 heifers, commencing calving in May, which sold from $1900-$2050.
Unjoined heifers were scarce, especially good quality heifers. M&N Emmins, Yackandandah, sold 12 Angus-Friesian heifers for $1510, and D Maddock 6 Hereford-Friesians for a top of $1550. Other heifers sold mostly from $1010-$1300.