Reading the pen cards at the Wodonga store cattle sale, Thursday, it looked like a road map to New South Wales with so many different towns mentioned.
The drought is forcing producers to seek better places to sell their cattle, and many NSW producers sent cattle south to Wodonga, because of Victoria’s better position for grass and water.
A lot of the NSW cattle came from the usual areas closer to Wodonga, but cattle were noted coming from Narromine, Booligal, Urana, Singleton and a few other places that would normally sell local to their district.
There was many young cattle penned weighing upward from 150 kilograms liveweight, but the yarding did included a lot of good to very good quality steers and some heifers.
For many of the cattle from the NSW, the theory of seeking better competition came to the fore. A very good crowd of buyers included more feedlot and grain feeding competition, more backgrounding demand, future live export, and buyers came from as far south as Tasmania too.
All of these plus many locals made purchases.
There was 113 cows and calves offered, many in fair to good condition, as were some of the joined females. G&S Glenn, property sold, sold 21 Hereford cows and calves from $1300-$1640. Their 46 PTIC cows sold between $1200 and $1500, all being good results.
Most other cows and calves sold from $1240 and over, although some small frame crossbred cows and calves only fetched $400.
The big strength of the market was feedlot competition for steers weighing over 320kgs lwt.
DKF Heywood and Sons, “Glenlock”, Everton, sold an annual draft of 400 Angus steer weaners, which were in very good condition. Dennis Heywood had put a lot of feed and effort into growing these steers, and it paid off in spades.
Three pens of yearling steers sold from $1220-$1320, which was the market top price, and the younger steers sold from $705 for the youngest, to $1170 for prime steer weaners.
Thomas Foods were the strength early for feeder steers, and other feedlots made purchases too. The younger calves sold mostly to a future live export order.
There were several other larger consignments of cattle sold, which gave a good indication of the steer sale over a range of weights.
A&A Bouchier, Urana, NSW, sold 145 Angus steers ranging from $580 for calves, to $1180 for their best weaner steers.
Brooksby Pastorla, “Warrah”, Holbrook, sold 188 Angus steers from $400-$870 with a South Gippsland buyer purchasing several of the best pens.
For Hereford steers, look no further than R&M Trethowan, “Lindawarra”, Cookardinia, NSW. They sold 126 steers from $765-$1270. The top pens equaled 309-313c/kg lwt, which was a very good sale.
Best of the Poll Hereford steers was 67 head from S&C Booth, “Homewood”, Booligal. These sold between $780 and $1015.
The top price for Charolais steers was $1250 for 8 head of S&J Goldsworthy, Rennie. Cassar and Edwards, Tocumwal, sold 42 Shorthhorn steers from $670-$910.
Throughout the sale there were numerous pens of young steer calves, which were not weighed, but were very light. Wind River Grazing, Whittingham, NSW, sold Angus steers from $260-$370.
Demand for heifers varied with feedlots buying the heavier heifers from around 260-270c/kg lwt. Five heavy Charolais heifers topped the sale making $1100, and a few other pens made between $850 and $905.
However, many of the heifers were young, lighter, and plainer condition. These attracted competition from locals, South Gippsland and Tasmania, all making significant purchases.
A&A Bouchier, “Burrongong”, Urana, sold 123 Angus and Charolais heifer calves from $435-$800. Two Creeks Grazing, Mount Alfred, sold 50 EU accredited Angus heifers for $640 and $645, and these plus many others sold at cheaper rates, equaling only 200-245c/kg lwt.
Brooksby Pastoral Co, Hollbrook, were the main volume seller, offering 200 Angus heifers making from $300-$625 with a South Gippsland buyer prominent here.
Hereford heifers of Nixon Partners, Savernake, sold for $690, being the highest price for the breed.
By the end of the day, everything had found a new home, some to return to the paddock,but may to be grain fed, or prepared for future feeding.