IN DECEMBER 2017, WARRNAMBOOL AGENTS offered 900 F1 female cattle, and that sale was the dearest by far of all F1 sales held over a six week period.
This saw a number of out of the district producers send their cattle to Warrnambool for this year’s sale, lifting supply to 1952 head, plus calves.
This over supply, coupled with a general downturn in all cattle prices in 2018, led to a much lower result.
Warrnambool and surrounding districts have experienced one of the best seasons, and this was reflected in the weight, growth and condition of the cattle offered.
D&C Carey, Warrumyea Rise, Panmure, sold large frame, good quality F1 cows with Limousin calves at foot, to the sale’s top price of $2450.
This top price was down by $800 compared to that of Mindarra Park for their 2017 cows and calves.
Mindarra Park returned to Warrnambool, selling 74 Angus-Friesian and Hereford-Friesian heifers, 2.5 years with quality Limousin calves, which sold mostly from $1725 to $2000.
A new vendor to Warrnambool was J&E Keogh, Stony Creek, selling 15 heifers and calves from $1575 to $1725, and John Keogh said he was very happy with his prices.
Mount Elephant Pastoral Company, Derrinallum, sold 76 Angus-Friesian heifers with good quality Angus calves at foot, which were up to 4 months of age.
Having Angus calves limited the competition some what, which saw prices of $1500 to $1625 for top quality outfits.
Many of the female cattle penned were PTIC heifers, mostly 2 to 2.5 years, and generally in calf to Limousin bulls.
Prices for the heifers of heavy weight, and in prime condition sold from $1600 to $1950.
However, there were numerous sales between $1250 and $1650 for heifers, which included some of the better quality heifers.
Repeat buyers, who know the results of previous purchases, aided some solid returns to to vendors of the day.
WR Rhook sold 88 Angus-Friesian heifers, 2 to 2.5 years, PTIC to Parkview Limousin bulls, from $1250 to $1950.
Considering current market trends, many of the day’s prices were very good.
J&E Keogh, Stony Creek, sold 37 Angus-Friesian heifers, PTIC to Billy Creek Limousin bulls, from $1425 to $1525, and again here, John was very happy with his prices.
Plenty of unjoined heifers were penned, ranging from poddy calves to high quality heifers, 18 to 20 months of age.
The older heifers sold in a very broad price range of $680 to $1295, the top price being for very well grown Hereford-Friesian heifers, 18-20 months, of “Timboon View”.
R&E Mather sold 43 Angus-Friesian heifers, 16-17 months, by Weeran Angus bulls, from $1020 to $1150, and R&S McClure, 86 Angus-Friesian heifers, 14-15 months, in plain condition, from $510 to $750.