A quality yarding of 2,308 steers including 737 purebred Herefords had buyers bidding to premium prices at the Hamilton All Breeds Weaner Sale on Tuesday.
The top dollar per head price for Hereford steers was $1297, which was paid by Princess Royal Station for a pen of 17 EU accredited Bendulla blood steers weighing 409kg, offered by Mibus brothers, Sandy Camp.
The top cents per kilogram rate in the Hereford cattle was 326c/kg for a pen of 27 EU accredited Yarram Park, Injemira and Melville Park blood steers offered by Beerik Partnership, which averaged 373kg and sold to Paul Mason of Wellington, NSW.
In the Hereford crossbred cattle Mibus brothers earnt top dollar with a pen of six EU accredited black baldy steers averaging 441kg making 310c/kg or $1367.
Hereford steers weighing over 350kg ranged in price from 275c/kg to 326c/kg and averaged 307c/kg.
The lighter Herefords weighing up to 350kg made between 255c/kg and 312c/kg with an average price of 291c/kg.
Crossbred steers ranged from 260c/kg to 310c/kg and averaged 287c/kg.
The premium prices for quality EU cattle was a highlight of the sale with agents agreeing that the EU premium was the highest they had seen in a long time.
“Usually we see a premium of 5-8c/kg but today is anywhere from a 25-40c/kg premium which is the most we’ve seen for a fair while, so obviously a great demand for EU cattle for feedlotters and bullock purchasers,” said Landmark agent Sam Savin.
The main buying strength of the sale was attributed to return buyers such as Paul Mason of Wellington who picked up 133 head in the top runs of EU Herefords.
The champion pen of Hereford steers was awarded to John and Liz Craig of “Inverell” with a pen of 22 EU accredited Yarram Park blood steers which averaged 398kg.
Murray Arnel of Beef Central judged the champion pen and selected the Inverell steers for their good preparation and described the March/April drop steers as “very well boned and square.”
The champion pen sold for 317c/kg or $1262 per head to Paul Mason who has been buying the Inverell steers for the last 18 years.
John Craig was pleased with the sale results for the 182 steers they had on offer.
“319c/kg was our top price for our middle weight range which was about 363kg on average, and that’s for a draft of 84,” Mr Craig said.
Owen McClure of Beerik Partnership was also happy with how the sale went:
“We had 87 steers at the sale, the heavy ones that were over 370kg sold very well to a grass finisher with some feedlot competition there and the couple of lighter pens that were around 340kg still sold very well to a repeat buyer, and some went to Gippsland.
“We’ve actually done better (price wise) than last year so that’s good, and it’s definitely better than I was expecting a week or 10 days ago,” Mr McClure said.
The quality of the cattle offered was commended by the agents with some excellent genetic lines on offer to buyers.
“There’s a lot of money spent down here on bull power and it’s very evident by the breeding of the cattle and who comes back every year and rebuys them,” Mr Savin said.
The quality of the steers was also attributed to the better season experienced in the western districts with late spring rain making up for a slower start to the season.
“We had a good spring in the end, we got enough rainfall at the crucial times and that carried us through, and we ended up with a good spring and everyone made hay, so we’re very fortunate,” Mr Craig said.
Top Quotes:
Herefords
Mibus Brothers: 17, EU, Bendulla blood, 409kg, 317c/kg or $1297
JA & EA Craig: 22, EU, Yarram Park blood, 398kg, 317c/kg or $1262
Beerik Partnership: 27, EU, Yarram Park, Injemira, Melville Park blood, 373kg, 326c/kg or $1216
Stephen G Beaton: 16, EU, Injemira, Allendale, Oak Downs blood, 375kg, 316c/kg or $1185
AA & LM Brown: 15, Allendale blood, 399kg, 275c/kg or $1097
KW & LM Mibus & Son: 16, Banemore, Jaclinton blood, 383kg, 281c/kg or $1076
Kentara: 19, Glenfern blood, 369kg, 290c/kg or $1070
Dinwooly Farm: 15, Wolbull blood, 362kg, 282c/kg or $1021
Giant Rock Partnership: 24, EU, Injemira, Melville Park, Glendan Park blood, 318kg, 304c/kg or $967
RK Gray: 12, Melville Park blood, 325kg, 283c/kg or $920
Maurven Slopes: 17, EU, Taronga blood, 317kg, 290c/kg or $919
Melville Park: 24, Courallie, Kidman, Melville Park blood, 330kg, 277c/kg or $914
Greengully: 14, Melville Park blood, 322kg, 280c/kg or $902
Crossbreds
Mibus Brothers: 6, EU, black baldy, 441kg, 310c/kg or $1367
RJ & RI Atwell: 9, EU, black baldy, 403kg, 288c/kg or $1138
R & ME Stephens: 10, black baldy, 380kg, 290c/kg or $1102
Smokey River: 17, Hereford/Simmental, 377kg, 278c/kg or $1048
N & M Jennings: 15, EU, Hereford/Shorthorn, 364kg, 285c/kg or $1037
D Beaton: 15, EU, black baldy, 344kg, 301c/kg or $1035
Dinwooly Farm: 10, black baldy, 336kg, 290c/kg or $974
Kentara: 14, Hereford/Shorthorn, 311kg, 299c/kg or $930
The champion pen of Herefords was awarded to John & Liz Craig of “Inverell”. Pictured L to R: Michael Beattie; Herefords Australia, Maggie, Sam, Liz and John Craig, with pen judge Murray Arnel; Beef Central.
Elders agents taking bids on the champion pen of steers.
Carmen Menzell and Ellie Sanders caught up before the sale.
Denise Beaton of Giant Rock Partnership with the top run of Giant Rock steers which sold for 306c/kg to Injemira.
Aaron Malseed; Elders Hamilton, Owen McClure; Beerik Partnership, and Michael Beattie; Herefords Australia.
Helen and Martin Boyer of Narrawong were checking out what prices were doing at the Hamilton sales.
Ashley Read; Zoetis and Steve Pritchard; WSD Agribusiness.
