South Australian lot feeders and backgrounders competed with their northern counterparts for quality weaned and accredited Hereford steers, lifting prices to 350c/kg and $1320 at Hamilton.
Selling agents JM Ellis & Co, LMB Livestock & Land, Lanyons Stock & Station Agents, Kerr & Co, Southern Grampians Livestock, J & J Kelly and Brian O’Halloran & Co yarded 2259 Hereford, Hereford cross and Euro steers and heifers for the Hereford and Euro Feature Weaner Sale on January 10.
Overall, the sale grossed $2.41 million and averaged 325c/kg or $1070 while weaner steers averaged 328c/kg or $1109.
Active buyers included Paul Mason, Wellington, Princess Royal Station, Alex Scott & Staff, Miller Whan & John, Ray White Albury Holbrook, O’Connor & Graney, Elders Camperdown, Ballan Ag, J & J Kelly, Nutrien Deniliquin, Nutrien Warnambool, Lanyons, Palmer Ag, Nutrien Leongatha, Willinga Pastoral, Injemira Beef Genetics, SEJ Leongatha, and commission buyer Andrew Lowe.
The big runs of quality autumn drop Hereford steers over 350kg liveweight sold for $1092-$1320 or 312-338c/kg. The European Union accredited pens traded at the same rates.
The steers weighing 280-350kg finished at $923-$1168 or 300-334c/kg and the EU pens sold for $923-$1168 or 312-332c/kg.
The lighter weight cattle under 280kg settled at $644-$945 or 316-350c/kg and the EU pens made $846-$945 or 316-350c/kg.
In the Hereford infused pens, Hereford/Shorthorn steers over 350kg sold for $1104-$1294 or 312-322c/kg, and those under 350kg $908-$982 or 316-320c/kg. A nice run of Hereford/Simmental steers sold for $1224-$1333 or 326-340c/kg for pens over 350kg and those 280-350kg made $936-$1169 or 306-346c/kg.
Commission buyer Andrew Lowe, Wagga Wagga, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen, selecting 25 European Union accredited, February/March drop steers, Yarram Park and Mawarra blood, from Leon Wheeler, Wallacedale.
The 405kg steers were snapped up by Mr Lowe on behalf of repeat buyer and steer finisher Paul Mason, Wellington, NSW, for the top price in the autumn drop purebred steers of $1320 or 326c/kg.
Mr Wheeler finished his 216 Hereford and Hereford/Shorthorn steers on hay during a tough spring to present on sale day at an average of 364kg.
“This last lot of rain has kicked the market along. The EU accreditation is giving a 10-12 per cent premium.”
Andrew Lowe bought 20 pens of Hereford and Euro steers across the sale for not only Paul Mason but also backgrounders in northern NSW wanting liveweights of 320-330kg.
“We saw the price rise today with people wanting crossbreds rather than blacks to target the bullocks instead of the feeder market. The grass-fed programs are growing and looking for Hereford cattle,” Mr Lowe said.
“This market will get moving shortly because supply will run out with people holding cattle back after the rain and nutritional intake is getting tricky now (going into autumn and finishing steers to heavier weights).”
The top price of the Hereford run on a cents per kilogram basis was obtained by Wootongvale with a pen of 26 Injemira and Days blood steers, 269kg, bought for 350c/kg or $941 by restocker John Holcombe, Byaduk.
Mooralla Pastoral Company rang the bell for the overall sale top in the Hereford and Hereford infused pens with Hereford/Simmental steers, 409kg, making $1333 or 326c/kg.
Paul Malseed, “Orana”, Breakway Creek, sold his top pen of Yarram Park steers, 370kg and EU accredited, for $1176 or 318c/kg to Andrew Lowe.
Owen McClure, Beerik Partnership, Coleraine, sold his top pen of Yarram Park and Injemira steers, 382kg, grass fed, antibiotic free, PCAS and Greenhams Never Ever accredited, for $1291 or 338c/kg to Paul Mason, Wellington.
“The calves sold well today to repeat buyers and a few new people as well. There is a bit more confidence now it has rained and the market is back on the up, a lot more exciting than it was six weeks ago.
“Feedlots and processor (are active) and grass-fed grids have all moved recently. This should help with the heifers too and I expect there will be a few opportunities for feeders or for people to join and market again.”
Kerr & Co auctioneer Zach Van Wegen said the sale was marked by strong demand from several lot feeders and northern bullock fatteners.
“It was good sale overall with no holes in it. The top end EU accredited Hereford steers were making 315-335c/kg and the middle run 330-335c/kg and the bottom end lighter Hereford steers in those bigger runs were pushed up to 340c/kg,” Mr Van Wegen said.
“it was stronger than at the start of the week and this is a credit to the vendors who have stuck with the Hereford breed and are spending big money on their bulls from well known studs, and its good to see them getting well paid for it.
“There was a couple of EU accredited pens which stayed in the system – it’s another box to tick and give everyone a chance to buy them.”
Mr Van Wegen expects the heifers to be sought after by restockers following solid sales of restocker heifers during the week.
“The cattle have really bloomed in the last month with good weights at the top end – most weights are at 370-395kg with a few exceptional pens.”
“Quotes
Steers
L Wheeler: 25, EU, Mawarra, Yarram Park and Belmore blood, 405kg, $1320 or 326c/kg
Beerik Partnership: 29, Yarram Park and Injemira blood, 382kg, $1291 or 338c/kg
Rowan: 19, EU, 360kg, Yarram Park and Glendan Park blood, 360kg, $1144 or 318c/kg
Old Ripponhurst: 20, 353kg, Injemira blood, $1129 or 320c/kg
G E Russell P/Co: 14, 386kg, Yarram Park blood, $1219 or 316c/kg
Wootongvale: 18, 374kg, Injemira and Days blood, $1219 or 326c/kg
Lochedral: 24, Yarram Park and Glendan Park blood, 370kg, $1198 or 324c/kg
Orana: 20, Yarram Park blood, 370kg, $1176 or 318c/kg
RS Rundell & Sons: 29, EU, 352kg, Yarram Park blood, $1168 or 332c/kg
Elgin: 18, Yarram Park and Banemore blood, 349kg, $1061 or 304c/kg
The Wash: 9, 347kg, $1054 or 304c/kg
Nardoo Pastoral: 12, 338kg, Moora blood, $1034 or 306c/kg
Farena: 13, 338kg, $1014 or 300c/kg
Banool: 20, Ennerdale blood, 284kg, $937 or 330c/kg
Henty Anderson: 21, 295kg, $932 or 316c/kg
Hereford infused steers
Mooralla Pastoral: 9, Hereford/Simm, 409kg, $1328 or 326c/kg
The Highlands: 17, Hereford/Simm, 405kg, $1328 or 336c/kg
Alva Downs: 40, Injemira blood, Hereford/Simm, 392kg, $1293 or 330c/kg
Smokey River: 11, 346kg, Hereford/Simm, Banemore blood, $1079 or 312c/kg
Leon Wheeler, Donna Eichler and Rhys Wheeler, Wallacedale, were awarded the Herefords Australia champion pen for their 405kg February/March drop steers.
Paul and Carolyn Malseed, “Orana”, Breakaway Creek, sold this pen of EU accredited and Yarram Park blood steers for $1176 or 318c/kg.
Owen McClure, Beerik Partnership, Coleraine, sold this pen of EU accredited, Yarram Park, Injemira blood steers for $1291 or 338c/kg.
Grace, David, Emily and Michelle Elsom, Old Ripponhurst, Warrabkook, sold the tops of their Injemira blood steers, 353kg, for $1129 or 320c/kg.
Buyers and vendors crowd the gallery at Hamilton where autumn drop Hereford steers topped at $1320 and Hereford cross at $1333.
Zach Van Wegen, Kerr & Co, and Neil Darby, Alex Scott & Staff, Warragul, looking over the pens at Hamilton.
John Holcombe, Byaduk, was restocking at Hamilton and paid 350c/kg for 269kg steers, Injemira and Days blood, from Wootongvale.
Leon Wheeler, Wallacedale, presented the heaviest autumn drop Hereford pen at 405kg and well weaned to win the champion pen.
The Wheeler family, Wallacedale, occupied the opening lane and offered 216 autumn drop steers.
The large offering of top quality Hereford weaners in one of the breed’s iconic weaner sales at Hamilton.
Wagag Wagga commission buyer Andrew Lowe was a major buyer of the Hereford and Euro steers at the sale for NSW steer finishers and backgrounders.
