BACKGROUNDERS, breeders and lotfeeders will have the opportunity to purchase some of the best quality calves from the New England and North West in the 12th annual Powerhouse Liveweight Weaner Sale at Gunnedah on March 22.
The North West’s premier weaner sale will feature 6000 quality calves, including large lines of British, European and Bos Indicus cattle.
Agent Luke Scicluna, Davidson Cameron and Company, said the sale – the largest offering since the sale began in 2007 – would include cattle from the North West, New England and Upper Hunter.
Among the largest lines are 350 Waverley blood Angus mixed sex weaners from Waverley Station, Kurrumbede, Gunnedah, and 300 European Union – accredited Booroomooka and Sara Park blood Angus steers and heifers from the Southwell family, Valley Heights, Bingara.
LJE Farming, Violet Downs, Narrabri, will offer 300 mixed sex Angus weaners with Booroomooka, Kansas and Larrikin bloodlines, and Rockwell Partnership, Rockwell, Moree, will sell 200 Ironbark, Minnie Vale and Brooksby blood Hereford/Angus/Charolais-cross steers and heifers.
In the European and Bos Indicus-sired weaners, Hamblin Pastoral Company, Wairoa, Narrabri, will have on offer 220 Minnie Vale and Palgrove blood Charolais/Angus-cross mixed sex weaners, and the Brownhill family, Merrilong, Quirindi, will sell 200 Charolais/Angus-cross mixed sex weaners with Palgrove bloodlines.
While vendors aren’t expecting to reach the records set by last year’s sale, the quality calves on offer, and the big lines, would still attract buyers from southern NSW, Victoria, and Queensland, following good rain over much of state, Mr Scicluna said.
In previous years, heavier steers have sold to lotfeeders, with the rest going to backgrounders, and the best heifers going to breeders.
Rain-fuelled bidding pushed prices to 462 cents a kilogram and $1516 a head for steers and 422c/kg and $1374 for heifers at the 2017 sale. The 3500-head yarding averaged 401c/kg and $1059.
A second Powerhouse sale will be held at Armidale on April 20.