The Victorian western districts weaner sales kicked off on Tuesday afternoon at Hamilton with a quality yarding of 2986 steer weaners.
Bullock fatteners and feedlot backgrounders paid a premium for quality EU Hereford steers while the live export market snapped up around 600 head on the day.
The opening Hereford pen of the afternoon was offered by JA and EA Craig and sold for the top Hereford dollar per head price of $1212.
The pen of 46 Yarram Park blood EU steers averaged 391kg and sold for 310c/kg to Paul Mason of Wellington NSW.
JA and EA Craig also earned the equal top cents per kilo price in the Herefords of 317c/kg with 49 steers of the same breeding weighing 310kg, also selling to Paul Mason.
Ron and Denise Beaton of Giant Rock Partnership also made 317c/kg for their pen of 43 Injemira, Melville Park and Glendan Park blood steers.
The EU accredited steers weighed an average of 326kg and sold to WTG Cottrell.
Hereford steers sold for between 250-317c/kg, black baldies fetched between 270 and 314c/kg and Hereford crossbreds sold for 268-298c/kg.
Top priced EU black baldies offered by Mibus Brothers sold for $1230 per head.
The Herefords Australia champion pen was judged by Ben Redfern of Ray White Emms Mooney and was awarded to a pen of 17 Giant Rock steers, which averaged 363kg and sold for $1110 (306c/kg) to Deep Water Pastoral Co.
Cattle sold to a range of buyers including Landmark International, Princess Royal, Elders Holbrook, Deep Water Pastoral Co., Paul Mason, Ravensworth Ag, Ray White Albury, Thomas Foods International, Elders Hamilton, Injemira, Alex Scott and Staff, Teys Charlton and JBS.
A regular buyer at the western districts sales, Paul Mason of Wellington in NSW purchased almost 200 head of cattle at Tuesday’s sale including the top dollar per head pen and the equal top cents per kilo pen.
“I’ve been coming here a long time, probably 15 years.
“I’ll be buying again tomorrow. I usually buy about 600 head over the week.” Mr Mason said.
Mr Mason fattens the steers he purchases for around 12 months and then sells them to JBS at Scone.
“Sometimes my cattle get sold into the JBS Hereford Boss program. I haven’t been able to this year because due to the drought I fed the cattle cottonseed which is GM.” Mr Mason said.
Mr Mason said he was pleased with the quality of the cattle in the yards at Hamilton and likes Herefords for their ability to finish on grass.
“I buy my cattle mainly on quality (rather than price) particularly regarding their genetics.
“Herefords finish well on grass and the premium now is for grass finished with no antibiotics.” Mr Mason said.
James Brown from Ray White Albury was also at the Hamilton sale purchasing on behalf of two clients.
“We bought 160-170 head for two different clients, one backgrounding and one borderline feedlot entry weights where they’ll background them for a month or so.
“Our clients will handle anything from 200 to 560kg, so we more shop for price. We bought cattle around the $2.70 – $2.80 mark.” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown was very impressed with the quality of the cattle offered, particularly in the Herefords.
“Hamilton always has a wonderful yarding of cattle, especially the Hereford cattle. I believe you’d be hard pressed to find better Hereford cattle anywhere.” Mr Brown said.
Sam Savin from Landmark Hamilton was one of the selling agents on the day and identified feedlotters as one of the main buying strengths at the sale.
“The buying strength for heavier cattle (330kg plus) was feedlotting.
“On the very well-bred Hereford EU cattle the buying strength was Paul Mason from NSW. Other than Paul there wasn’t a lot of background competition due to northern conditions.” Mr Savin said.
Quality EU cattle were in high demand at the sale with buyers willing to pay top price for heavier EU Herefords.
“There was a premium for those very good EU cattle especially the Herefords, there was a very good premium for EU Herefords and Angus that were heavy enough.
“As soon as you come under the 320kg I don’t think the premium was there, but for feedlotting there was definitely a premium for EU.” Mr Savin said.
Aaron Malseed was selling on behalf of Elders Hamilton and also identified premiums for quality EU Herefords.
“EU was definitely a premium. We had repeat purchasers in Paul Mason from Wellington and Marc Greening from Injemira buying quality cattle that do perform.” Mr Malseed said.
Mr Malseed was pleased with the quality of the cattle yarded and with the prices paid for said cattle.
“The dollar per head rates in the tops were about $1200 for the Herefords and north of $3/kg which was good.
“The sale overall was very good, it started off well with the blacks and got onto the Herefords where we had some exceptionally well-bred Hereford cattle that sold at great rates.” Mr Malseed said.
Top Quotes
Herefords
JA & EA Craig: 46, EU, Yarram Park blood, 391kg, 310c/kg or $1212
Mibus Brothers: 23, Bendulla blood, 377kg, 306c/kg or $1153
Giant Rock Partnership: 17, EU, Injemira, Melville Park, Glendan Park blood, 363kg, 306c/kg or $1110
AA & LM Brown: 17, Allendale, Days blood, 388kg, 285c/kg or $1109
Beerik Partnership: 85, EU, Yarram Park, Injemira, Melville Park blood, 359kg, 300c/kg or $1077
Welbanite: 27, EU, Banemore, Yarram Park blood, 362kg, 296c/kg or $1071
Dinwooly Farm: 24, Wolbull blood, 359kg, 290c/kg or $1041
D. Beaton: 8, EU, Melville Park blood, 360kg, 289c/kg or $1040
Melville Park: 23, EU, Melville Park blood, 350kg, 296c/kg or $1036
Stephen G Beaton: 26, EU, Allendale, Bowmont, Mt Difficult, Oak Downs, Yarram Park and Melville Park blood, 327kg, 309c/kg or $1010
Kelso Pastoral Co.: 16, EU, Yarram Park blood, 327kg, 307c/kg or $1003
J. Ussher: 12, EU, Allendale, Oak Downs blood, 340kg, 292c/kg or $993
RK Gray: 10, Mt Difficult blood, 329kg, 294c/kg or $967
Greengully: 14, Glenfern blood, 336kg, 278c/kg or $934
AJR, D & LT Stanton: 14, Melville Park blood, 332kg, 278c/kg or $923
KJ, MJ & CJ Myers: 17, EU, Taronga blood, 296kg, 308c/kg or $911
Black Baldies
Mibus Brothers: 19, 392kg, 314c/kg or $1230
Koala Park: 3, 370kg, 295c/kg or $1091
Banool: 20, 348kg, 305c/kg or $1061
MS & FM Herman: 10, 357kg, 296c/kg or $1056
Greengully: 11, 353kg, 294c/kg or $1037
Kleenview: 15, 338kg, 300c/kg or $1014
R & ME Stephens: 15, 330kg, 298c/kg or $983
Dinwooly Farm: 12, 320kg, 300c/kg or $960
The Victorian western districts weaner sales began on Tuesday at Hamilton where 2986 weaners were sold under the hammer.
The Herefords Australia champion sash for best presented pen of Herefords was awarded to Giant Rock Partnership with their pen of 17 steers. Pictured L to R: Andrew Donoghue Herefords Australia General Manager, Travis, Denise, and Ron Beaton of Giant Rock Partnership, and pen judge Ben Redfern of Ray White Emms Mooney.
Landmark Hamilton agent Sam Savin sells a pen of EU Hereford steers.
Paul and Maureen Boland of Casino NSW were spectators at the western districts sales.
Premium prices were paid for top EU Hereford steers at Hamilton on Tuesday.
