NSW steer finishers competed strongly on the top end Hereford calves at the 50th annual Elders and Landmark feature weaner calf sale, to result in prices hitting 416c/kg – 76c/kg up on last year.
The addition of feedlot, backgrounder and processor competition from Victorian, South Australia meant prices did not dip below 342c/kg.
Interfaced with AuctionsPlus for the first time, the Hamilton sale yarded 1175 Hereford, Hereford cross and Euro steers on Thursday, January 12.
The entire yarding averaged 357kg to return an average of 380c/kg or $1354.
Prices eased across all weight categories with Hereford steers weighing over 350kg finishing at 342-402c/kg or $1270-$1570 – down 10c/kg on the previous day’s sale at Hamilton.
Hereford steers weighing 250-350kg returned 367-416c/kg, or $1028-$1294 – down 8c/kg on the previous day.
Limited lightweight calves under 250kg resulted in prices of 350-392c/kg or $735-$913.
Shorthorn-Hereford cross steers sold for 370-409c/kg or $1087-$1391.
In the middle run of Hereford steers, vendors pocketed an extra 80c/kg or $132 a head on last year’s prices while the top pens were up $226.
The Herefords Australia sponsored champion pen was judged by Dion Brook, Eloora Shorthorns, Cavendish, and awarded to Geoff and Di Notman, Mt Widderin, Skipton.
It was the final sale for the couple after dispersing their Mt Widderin whiteface herd.
Their top pen of 30 autumn 2016 drop steers, averaging 413kg, EU accredited, sold for $1466 or 355c/kg.
Topping the sale on a dollars per head basis was the opening pen at $1570 offered by John and Liz Craig, “Inverell’’, Hamilton.
The pen of 17 steers, Yarram Park blood, March-April drop, EU accredited, weighed 428kg, and returned 367c/kg.
The second top price of $1501 was achieved by Pepper Partnership with a pen of 416kg steers, EU accredited, returning 361c/kg.
Topping the sale on a cents per kilogram basis was David Farrugia, Drumborg, with Bowmont blood steers weighing 274kg and selling for 416c/kg or $1140.
Regular vendors Gordon, Jane and Owen McClure, “Beerik’’, Coleraine, sold their top pen of 77 March-April drop steers, Injemira, Yarram Park and Melville blood, weighing 365kg, for $1467 or 402c/kg.
Long time vendor David Lyons, Melville and Melville Park studs, Vasey, sold his top pen of weaners, 371c/kg and EU accredited, for $1305 or 352c/kg, and $1227 or 372c/kg for his seconds weighing 330kg.
Simon Ferrier sold a run of Taronga blood Hereford-Shorthorn cross steers, with the top pen, 376kg, returning $1391 or 370c/kg and his seconds, at 343kg making $1296 or 378c/kg.
Aaron Malseed, Elders Hamilton livestock manager, said repeat buyers were active on the EU lines, especially steer finisher Paul Mason, Wellington, NSW.
“Princess Royal feedlot were active on the EU calves while JBS bought for their Longford plant, and local steer finishers from Hamilton and Warrnambool were buying,’’ he said.
Other buyers included Marc Greening, Wagga, Ray White Emms Mooney, Bathurst, Gibb & Co, Queabeyan, Landmark Molong and Landmark Leongatha.
“It was a good solid sale with prices firm on the previous day,’’ Mr Malseed said.
He said the Elders Landmark All Breeds Heifer sale on Thursday, January 19 would offer 2000 head – the majority being Herefords and Black Baldies.
“We are expecting the majority of heifers to sell for 350-360c/kg with some breeders cattle making 400c/kg,’’ he said.
Top quotes
Inverell: 17, 428kg, EU, Yarram Park blood, March-April drop, $1570 or 367c/kg; 68, 386kg, $1428 or 370c/kg
Pepper P/Ship: 18, 416kg, EU, $1501 or 361c/kg
Beerik: 77, 365kg, EU, Injemira, Yarram Park and Melville blood, $1467 or 402c/kg
A & L Brown: 17, 421kg, $1465 or 348c/kg
Mt Widderin: 30, Yarram Park and Injemira blood, 413kg, EU, $1466 or 355c/kg
Mibus Bros Pastoral: 16, 414kg, EU, $1449 or 350c/kg
A & M Templeton: 16, 392kg, EU, $1399 or 357c/kg
Nevflo: 18, 395kg, $1390 or 352c/kg
N Edge: 13, 404kg, $1381 or 342c/kg
Dinwooly Farm: 18, 358kg, $1331 or 372c/kg
David Lyons: 37, 330kg, EU, $1227 or 372c/kg
R Gray: 12, 348kg, $1294 or 372c/kg
Kelso Pastoral: 15, 353kg, EU, $1281 or 363c/kg
R & M Stephens: 11, 351kg, $1270 or 362c/kg
Rob Lawrence: 18, 331kg, $1244 or 376c/kg
Green Gully: 10, 284kg, $1161 or 409c/kg
D Farrugia: 15, 274kg, $1140 or 416c/kg
Geoff and Di Notman, Mt Widderin, Skipton, were presented with the Herefords Australia champion pen by Herefords Australia director Andrew Bell, Millicent, and judge Dion Brook, Cavendish. The pen of 30 steers, weighing 413kg, EU accredited, sold for $1466 or 355c/kg.
