On a rainy and cool day, the independent agents of Paull&Scollard, Peter Ruaro Rodwells, Schubert Boers and BUR livestock, offered 2072 steers & heifers, plus 141 cows and calves.
More rain, and rain falling during the sale inspired stronger demand for steers, while most of the heifers, cows with calves, and joined cows, sold to steady demand.
While some of the supply area is drying out, and to the north, much more rain is needed, much of the country is in very good stead.
There are only a few weeks until the start of the annual weaner calf sales, and numerous onlookers were observing to gauge price trends.
A lot of good quality cattle were penned, although many single pen consignments led mixed competition.
The sale of cows and calves led the market. “Springdale”, Finley, sold several small lots of Angus, Hereford and crossbred cows with calves, mostly 6-8 weeks old.
Their condition was very good, and 3 Charolais cross cows and calves sold for $2200, the balance of 18 cows and calves sold from $1800-$2020.
These prices were mostly the range of other outfits with some of the plainer outfits selling from $1300-$1750. “Little Billabong Station”, Holbrook, sold 21 Hereford, and Hereford-Angus cows and calves from $1750-$1920.
J Wilcox, “Blackcamp”, Omeo, has had one of their worst seasons, and has had some of their cows and calves grazing the stock route in southern NSW.
At Wodonga, Thursday, they sold 20 Hereford cows, PTIC to calve May-June next year, for $1200, and 19 untested cows for $1060.
From there it was onto the steers, and the heaviest pen of steers were part of 48 Angus steers, offered by Bayrhyll Pty Ltd, Tallangatta.
Their nine older steers weighed 479kgs and sold for $1350, and their 39 younger steers made from $1240-$1300.
Very few pens of steers weighed over 400kgs, and prices of $1210 and over all equaled around 300-315c/kg lwt.
There was a few pens of steers bordering on 400kgs, and these sold quite well.
AH Turnbull, Bethanga, sold 26 Angus & Charolais cross steers from $1150-$1250. Mt Elliott Grazing, Corryong, sold a pen of heavy steers for $1325, their other 19 Angus steers, to $1255.
CT&CM Packer, Bethanga, sold 24 Angus & Angus-Hereford steers from $1190-$1205, with the lighter steers (333kgs) equaling 357c/kg.
The trend of lighter steers attracting more competition continued in this sale.
WI&SM Binnie, Bungeet, sold 21 Angus steers, 293kgs, for $1090 (372c), and C&C, and J&D Baker, George’s Creek, 23 steers from $1060-$1140, the youngest equaling 427kgs lwt.
“Woodleigh”, Tarcutta, sold 62 young steer calves, which made from $520-$835, and estimates put them well over 450c/kg lwt.
Strong demand for breeding heifers assisted in a mostly steady price outcome.
Mulgoa Past co, “Yammacooma”, Holbrook, sold 88 Angus heifers, which were in a tight weight range of 309-324kgs. These sold from $1040-$1045.
PR McCormack, Tallangatta, sold 13 Hereford heifers for $1030, and B Mann, “Romsey”, Walbundrie, 34 Charolais & Angus heifers from $1050-$1170. “Farady Valley”, Undera, sold 10 Charolais heifers for $1075.
Many pens of heifers sold between $920&$1170. “Cottonwoods”, Tallangatta, selling 34 Charolais-Shorthorn heifers to $1060, and PH Lawrence & Son, Hay, 10 Shorthorn heifers for $950.
Wodonga agents wish to advise that December store cattle markets will be run as follows: Corcoran Parker, Elders & Landmark will sell as normal, Thursday, December 7, and the Independent agents will be a week earlier, Thursday, December 14, in the lead up to Christmas.
