Secret Cow Level

Whitefaces and Eu Feature at Weaner Sales (16/01/2012)

Premiums of up to 10c/kg for EU accredited steers and increased demand for Herefords highlighted the mammoth calf sales that kicked off the year at Wodonga, Hamilton and Casterton.

The EU factor added 10c/kg or $25 to $40/head to accredited calves with Wodonga calves selling in the 230c/kg range with similar cattle making 220c plus at Hamilton and Casterton. Industry observors struggled to explain the difference.

Herefords sold to strong demand and in fact matched the blacks overall. At the Elders Hereford and Angus sale at Casterton, Herefords averaged 229c/kg with Angus on 228c.

Stock & Land’s veteran markets analyst Murray Arnell was at Wodonga where the prices were hot but crowds appeared to be down on previous years “...but appeared to swell and bidding became keener for the sales of white-faced and Euro-cross cattle than for their Angus cousins”, according to Arnell.

“Heavier black steers went to feedlotters while backgrounders took the balance. In the Hereford Euro-cross section, local and NSW bullock finishers provided stronger opposition to the feedlots,” wrote Arnell.

“On some occasions, this saw Hereford steers calculate slightly better than Angus,” he wrote.

Another feature of the opening sales was the disappearance of the cents per kilo premium for lighter calves.

Photographs from the Hamilton and Casterton sales:

  • Paul and Carolyn Malseed, Orana , Condah, Vic sold 123 steers with the top draft of 87 Hereford steers  weighing 327 kgs at $2.49 at the Hamilton calf sale  on the 4th January 2012 with purchaser Tim Hutton, Penshurst, Vic. Tim runs a 1200 Hereford steer operation and has gone from all black four years ago due to temperament and weight gain, to all Hereford selling at about 700 kgs, as well as a 400 cow breeding herd (click here).
  • John Pepper , Locheral, Tahora, Vuc, with son Jamie and the 74 steers averaging 336 kgs they sold for $2.42 to Paul Mason, Wellington, NSW, at the Hamilton weaner sale 2012 (click here).
  • John and Liz Craig  Inverell, Casterton, Vic sold this draft of 83 steer weighing 350 kg at $2.40 to Paul Mason,Wellington, NSW, at the Hamilton calf sales (click here).
  • Geoff and Di Notman  Mount Widderin , Skipton, Vic, with the pen of  26 December 7 2011 weaned EU Red Star steers at 389 kgs that made $2.24 (click here).
  • Marcus Winter-Cooke , Murndal, Tahora, Vic, with his  son Sam and the 29 Hereford steers at 389 kgs,making $2.23 they sold 150 steers at the Hamilton weaner sale (click here).
  • Kevin Upton, Casterton, Vic with some of his draft of 424 steers at Casterton calf sale. This pen of 121 March/April steers averaging 343kgs sold fro $2.15 (click here).
  • Neville and Alison ,McClure , Mooree, Harrow, Vic sold a draft of 470 steers at Casterton and also won the award for the best presented pen of steers for the 121 steers they sold weighing 387kgs and making $2.31 (click here).
  • Rick and Graham Foster, Haven Park, Casterton, Vic, with the pen of 22 steers weighing 376 kgs that made $2.22. They sold a draft of 73 steers at the sale (click here).
  • Tom , Dale and  Alex Sullivan , Shallum, Casterton, Vic, sold 118 steers at the Casterton weaner sale . The 39 March/April drop steers in this draft averaged 347 kgs and made $2.22 (click here)
  • Jason Koch, Rosebank , Casterton, Vic, was very pleased with the price he received for his top pen of  steers at Casterton. They weighed 372 and made $2.14 . Jason sold a draft of 197 head at the sale (click here)
  • Bruce and Dean Miller, "Rowan" , Casterton , Vic , were pleased with the pen of 39 steers weighing 380 kgs and making $2.22 , which were part of the 90 steers they sold at the sale (click here)
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