It was the calm before the weaner sale storm at the Euroa Hereford Special and All Breeds Cattle Sale on Wednesday, where background buyers sustained extraordinary price levels.
Despite a mixed offering of small lines, backgrounders went head-to-head with feedlotters to get a slice of the 740-head yarding.
Nutrien Ag livestock auctioneer Daniel Fischer said the strong sale was dominated by local inquiry from feedlots and backgrounders.
"On the female side, cows and calves sold very well with a magnificent line of Angus heifers, with calves at foot, topping over $4000 a unit," Mr Fischer said.
"It is similar results to other sales at the moment, with a lot of demand for cows making $3000-$4000 for most outfits.
"Heifers were slightly softer but feedlot inquiry kicked in on the lighter end which ignited the bidding - there were very few lots sub $1700, with most demand $1700-$2100."
The "magnificent" pen of 15 Palmyra Pastoral Angus heifers, with 15 calves at foot, was knocked down at $4050, paid by Nutrien Ag Alexandra.
Shortly after, Alec Rowan, Glenlyon Shorthorns, Terip Terip, sold 12 heifers with 3-8-week-old calves at foot for $4025, paid by Frank Deane, Nagambie.
Mr Rowan said the prices were enticing to "stay in the game".
"I am past my prime but these prices are keeping me determined," he said.
Nearly 60 years earlier, Mr Deane's father purchased Glenylon females as the nucleus for their Shorthorn breeding herd.
Mr Deane said while the prices were strong, "the price is the price so to be in it, you just have to pay".
In the heavy steer offering, Angus and Hereford steers above 400 kilograms, fetched from $2300-2600 a head, equating to 530-605 cents a kilogram.
Wayne Gerrard, Loxley, offered a single pen of Angus steers, 508kg, which sold to $2420 or 476c/kg.
Cents a kilogram prices escalated as weights for both steers and heifers eased.
Ian Dickson and Jenny Houghton, Longwood East, offered 17 Angus steers, Connemara blood, weighing 361kg, that sold to $2320 or 643c/kg.
The results had Mr Dickson "smiling all the way to the bank", he said.
Angela Jeffery offered a pen of 10 Hereford/Shorthorm steers, 6-7-months-old, weighing 278kg, which sold to $2070 or 745c/kg.
Albury, NSW, commission buyer Duncan Brown purchased a draft of 150 head, predominantly Angus heifers, with few pens below $2000, bound for backgrounders in northern NSW.
Mr Brown said the small offering reflected "people are trading and taking the money".
He said prices were on par with current sales, with buyers budgeting for $1800-$2000 for steers and heifers, from 280-350kg.
"It (prices) is sustainable, of course," he said.
"If you sold an old cow then these look cheap.
"If you keep a heifer for 10 years, $2000 doesn't matter."
He said the quality of the cattle had feedlots competing with backgrounders to secure orders.
"Cattle have gotten heavier so it was alright in July and August when you were able to buy cattle without much weight," he said.
"Now the spring has caught them, they are 350kg not 280kg, so the feedlotters are dropping their weight to 350kg."
It was the calm before the weaner sale storm at the Euroa Hereford Special and All Breeds Cattle Sale on Wednesday, where background buyers sustained extraordinary price levels.
Despite a mixed offering of small lines, backgrounders went head-to-head with feedlotters to get a slice of the 740-head yarding.
Nutrien Ag livestock auctioneer Daniel Fischer said the strong sale was dominated by local inquiry from feedlots and backgrounders.
"On the female side, cows and calves sold very well with a magnificent line of Angus heifers, with calves at foot, topping over $4000 a unit," Mr Fischer said.
"It is similar results to other sales at the moment, with a lot of demand for cows making $3000-$4000 for most outfits.
"Heifers were slightly softer but feedlot inquiry kicked in on the lighter end which ignited the bidding - there were very few lots sub $1700, with most demand $1700-$2100."
The "magnificent" pen of 15 Palmyra Pastoral Angus heifers, with 15 calves at foot, was knocked down at $4050, paid by Nutrien Ag Alexandra.
Shortly after, Alec Rowan, Glenlyon Shorthorns, Terip Terip, sold 12 heifers with 3-8-week-old calves at foot for $4025, paid by Frank Deane, Nagambie.
Mr Rowan said the prices were enticing to "stay in the game".
"I am past my prime but these prices are keeping me determined," he said.
Nearly 60 years earlier, Mr Deane's father purchased Glenylon females as the nucleus for their Shorthorn breeding herd.
Mr Deane said while the prices were strong, "the price is the price so to be in it, you just have to pay".
In the heavy steer offering, Angus and Hereford steers above 400 kilograms, fetched from $2300-2600 a head, equating to 530-605 cents a kilogram.
Wayne Gerrard, Loxley, offered a single pen of Angus steers, 508kg, which sold to $2420 or 476c/kg.
Cents a kilogram prices escalated as weights for both steers and heifers eased.
Ian Dickson and Jenny Houghton, Longwood East, offered 17 Angus steers, Connemara blood, weighing 361kg, that sold to $2320 or 643c/kg.
The results had Mr Dickson "smiling all the way to the bank", he said.
Angela Jeffery offered a pen of 10 Hereford/Shorthorm steers, 6-7-months-old, weighing 278kg, which sold to $2070 or 745c/kg.
Albury, NSW, commission buyer Duncan Brown purchased a draft of 150 head, predominantly Angus heifers, with few pens below $2000, bound for backgrounders in northern NSW.
Mr Brown said the small offering reflected "people are trading and taking the money".
He said prices were on par with current sales, with buyers budgeting for $1800-$2000 for steers and heifers, from 280-350kg.
"It (prices) is sustainable, of course," he said.
"If you sold an old cow then these look cheap.
"If you keep a heifer for 10 years, $2000 doesn't matter."
He said the quality of the cattle had feedlots competing with backgrounders to secure orders.
"Cattle have gotten heavier so it was alright in July and August when you were able to buy cattle without much weight," he said.
"Now the spring has caught them, they are 350kg not 280kg, so the feedlotters are dropping their weight to 350kg."
Annabelle Cleeland
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
Annabelle Cleeland is a Stock & Land journalist. She has worked at Australian Community Media for more than a decade serving in a number of roles including editor, senior journalist and national sheep & wool writer. She runs a fine Merino wool property with her young family in North-East Victoria.
