Poor winter and spring conditions have seen a good number of the 2018-drop steer and heifer weaners already sold.
Barnawartha agents advised that supply in their annual calf sales, which are held over two weeks at the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange (NVLX), plus their annual female breeder sale in week three, will be diminished because of the above reasons.
This will see Corcoran and Parker, Elders and Landmark, sell together on the first day of the series, Thursday, January 3.
For those who haven’t heard, Landmark has purchased the Paull & Scollard business, as of Monday, December 3.
Therefore, this combined agency will sell on day one, but with a good number of steers and heifers sold early, because of the very poor seasonal conditions during winter and spring, supply may well be limited to 5500 head on the opening day.
Spring was a good season for some producers, mostly from Mansfield, and into the high country.
Combined with other areas supplying the Barnawartha sale, that have not had the luck of a decent rain, quality and weight will vary.
This scenario will be seen across all breeds of weaners, sold over the two-week period of the calf sales.
All Barnawartha agents have indicated that cattle weights will be 20-40 kilograms lighter than the same sales in 2018, but the excellent breeding seen at Barnawartha will prevail.
The Wodonga Blue Ribbon Weaner sales kicks off this Friday, January 4, at 9am, at NVLX, with thousands of head of cattle on offer including Angus mixed sex weaners, EU accredited, steers and heifers. Find out more here.