Ballarat weaners hold the line

Prices paid for the 3711-strong penning were widely accepted as fully firm on feeder and younger weaner lines of cattle however sales of grown steers lacked the punch of recent markets easing 10-15 cents a kilogram during the opening parts of the sale.

Landmark auctioneer, Xavier Shanahan said that generally speaking prices were very comparable throughout excepting for the heavier pens in the market.

“There was a different spread of buyers for the heavier cattle this week and the demand didn’t carry the same intensity” Mr Shanahan said.

“Our feeders and the heavier drafts of weaners however, which were sold mostly in the $1400-$1600 price bracket, did gain good support and it was a great result for the weights that were involved”.

“Our drafts of heavier weaners, in particular carried their weight well.

“Normally, weaners at 360-420kg, you would assume would be fat, but these weren’t”.

“They had good size and good growth for their age and we’d expect the buyers to be extremely pleased with their purchases”.

Leading off the market a yard of nine Hereford grown steers, 621kg, made $1800 per head. These were sold by Ballham, Snake Valley while a second pen of the same, 579kg made $1630 with both lots sold to the Landmark Leongatha office which was the largest buyer consuming 460 cattle on the day.

Another of the market’s more activity buyers was WA-based live exporter, Harmony Agriculture and Food Company. They claimed in a haul of 445 head yards of 22 Crossroad Angus steers, 423kg secured at $1550 a head and 11 head of LM Grant Angus steers 439kg purchased at $1590.

Thomas Foods and Teys Charlton feedlots also provided strong support along with Westside Meats, Bacchus Marsh, Scott Creek Livestock, Mt Gambier and the Jalna Feedlot, Anakie.

At the head of the weaner run Glen Logie Farms sold nine Angus steers at $1600. These were followed a pen of 22 Angus 406kg sold by by Rowallan Lodge at $1520, a yard of 26 Angus, 383kg, sold at $1450 by then D&H Kosch, Dundunell and 17 Angus, 369kg sold at $1420 by DJ & AM Davey, Burrumbeet.

The best presented award, as judged by retired Landmark auctioneer Rod Branigan, was presented to Laurie and Matthew O’Halloran, Myrniong. Their yard of 15 Angus, 407kg made $1520 a head while M&C Mullane, Ballan sold 12 Angus, 384kg at $1460, and AR & W Gellie 20 Angus, 384kg sold at $1470.

Sales of white-faced calves were not overlooked among the better sales.

Glen Bros, Guilford sold 22 Hereford steers, 356kg, at $1330, Rowallan Lodge sold 22 Hereford steers, 331kg, at $1280 while an unweighed yard of 18 Coryule Hereford steers, estimated 310-320kg, made $1450 and their younger brothers (20 head), estimated 280-290kg, made $1445 a head.

Several drafts of younger and lighter station-bred Angus weaners also drew particular attention.

A draft of 97 Carngham Station Angus steers, made to $1065, average $$1055 while Warrawidgee sold 23 Angus, estimated 220kg, at $1060 a head. 

HEIFER SALE SURGE 10-20c

Unjoined heifer prices surged 10-20c/kg on previous Ballarat rates during the 44th annual Landmark sale.

In a market that grossed average sales of $1157 a head, the 1328-strong heifer sale saw prices surge to $1520 a head as most in the market collected prices between $1100 and $1350.

“A lot has changed in the heifer demand since our last Ballarat sale two weeks ago”, said Landmark auctioneer Xavier Shanahan.

“Buyers were keener however more of the better bred lines were returned to the paddock – they’ll have the option to bred or turn them over during the winter”, he said.

Among the better sales were the top priced: 12 Belsize Angus, 452kg, sold at $1520 a head. Perrewurr sold 15 Angus, 417kg, at $1450 while 24 Crossroads Angus heifers, 381kg, made $1460.

Better weaner sales were: DJ Davey - 22 Angus, 352kg sold at $1450, WB Shanahan -12 Shorthorn heifers, 369kg sold at $1410 and M&A Mullane – 7 Limousin heifers, 392kg sold at $1340