As the temperature climbed into the high 20s on Tuesday afternoon, the very large contingent of buyers moved on to Benambra for Elders’ Hereford sale.
While offering only 1323 head here, the quality was very good, and this enticed strong competition from repeat buyers.
KW&JA Pendergast sold the first pen for $1550, which was estimated to equal 378 cents per kilogram liveweight. Jackie Pendergast, Pendarra, Benambra, said this was $250 more than their top-priced pen last year.
This set a solid trend for the steers with a similar price trend seen for Herefords, as the Angus and Angus-Hereford steers sold earlier in the day at Omeo.
RS&SK Cornell sold 90 steers from $1180-$1480, and Russell & Merrilyn Pendergast, 26 steers from $1290-$1470.
CE&DG Anderson sold their Hereford steers here, making from $1110-$1480, with their top Herefords outselling their Angus steers earlier in the day, at Omeo.
Competition for the heavier end of the Hereford steers came from South Gippsland with a repeat buyer dominating at times. Some of the heavier steers were purchased by a King Island producer who regularly attends these sales.
RG&AH Faithfull sold 91 Hereford steers from $1070-$1330.
Benambra is generally known as Pendergast country, and this Hereford sale sees many family members selling their annual drafts. AG&SM Pendergast sold 70 steers from $1070-$1350, Ray and Max Pendergast, 38 steers from $1100-$1440, and WA Pendergast & Sons, 121 steers from $980-$1290. Again here, the younger steers sold very well.
Although this is a Hereford sale, BJ&JB Carroll have a paddock directly across from the saleyard, and they breed a few Charolais-Angus and Charolais-Hereford steers. These steers sold from $1320-$1440, and were of very good quality.
The heifer portion of this sale, generally met with limited competition. As one potential buyer said, “who wants Hereford heifers”. This could well be the case with the whole consignment averaging $998.
Eleven heifers offered by Ray and Max Pendergast sold to very strong competition between two producers, for breeders, who paid $1510 – thought to be a record heifer price at Benambra. Robert Newnham, Longford, secured these heifers. The repeat buyer said he would join them to an Angus bull because while he liked Herefords, including for their docility, black cattle were in higher demand in his area.
Most better quality heifers sold between $950 and $1320, and most of the younger heifers made from $750-$950.
BJ&JB Carroll’s Charolais heifers made $1130-$1200.
