Grass finishers figured prominently as the buyers of the Hereford run paying to a top of $1328 for the lead steers at the Hamilton All Breeds Weaner Sale.
Selling agents Elders, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Brian O’Halloran & Co and J & J Kelly yarded 3349 Hereford, Hereford cross, Angus and Euro steer weaners in the January 9 fixture, the opening sale for the Hereford breed in the Western Districts sales circuit.
Grossing $3.7 million, the sale resulted in steers averaging 326c/kg or $1106. In the breed breakdown, 586 Hereford steers sold to a top of 336c/kg or $1328 per head, and average of 317c/kg or $1016. Black baldy steers topped at 322c/kg or $1184 and averaged 309c/kg or $1036.
Active buyers included Elders Gunnedah, Ray White Albury Holbrook, Alex Scott & Staff, Warragul, Miller Whan & John, Mt Gambier, Princess Royal feedlot, Alastair Nelson, Colac, and Wagga Wagga commission buyer Andrew Lowe.
The lead pens of the autumn drop weaners weighing 350kg plus sold for $1140-$1328 or 314-336c/kg.
Steers weighing 280-350kg liveweight made $922-$1040 or 310-328c/kg while those under 280kg finished at $805-$840 or 304-312c/kg.
Hereford/Shorthorn cross steers made $794-$996 or 270-308c/kg. There was only a single pen to quote on the black baldies over 350kg at $1184 or 314c/kg while those weighing 280-350kg finished at $934-$1086 or 303-329c/kg.
Former steer finisher and now Hereford breeder Tim Hutton, Nigretta Partnership, Hamilton, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen, awarding the sash to the opening pen of March/April 2023 drop steers from vendors John and Liz Craig, “Inverell”, Casterton and Hamilton.
The steers had been yard weaned in November, weighed 405kg, were Yarram Park and Glendan Park blood, European Union and Greenhams Never Ever accredited, and Pasturefed eligible.
They were bought for the top price of $1328 or 328c/kg by commission buyer Andrew Lowe on behalf of repeat buyer and steer finisher Paul Mason, Wellington. Mr Mason also bought the second draft of 60 head weighing 365kg for $1226 or 336c/kg, the top on a cents per kilogram basis for the purebred calves.
The tops in the black baldy weaners was achieved by Mibus Bros, Sandy Camp, with steers weighing 377kg, February/March drop, EU accredited and fetching $1184 or 314c/kg. On a cents per kilogram basis, Oaklawn topped with March/April drop steers, 295kg, fetching 330c/kg or $973.
The Hereford top price was favourably comparable to the opening pen of Angus weighing 400kg and returning $1276 or 319c/kg.
Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann, Rockhampton, was busy buying Hereford steer weaners destined for finishing in northern NSW at Gunnedah and Tamworth for grass fed programs.
“That country, like everywhere, had amazing rain. Those backgrounders are looking for preferred weights of 270-350kg at – if it is for the feedlot they are wanting a 350kg animal at 320-340c/kg.
Mr Homman said the Hereford could not be beaten for an animal to finish for a grass-fed program.
“I would rather a Hereford over anything. This grass (market) is growing and the Herefords are well suited, perfect grass cattle with quality, good conversion, temperament and they put the weight on.
“The bigger the grass programs get, the more they will want Herefords and their crosses.”
“We’ve had four to five weaner sales, starting on the Murray River and yesterday (at Hamilton) we had a lot of local competition and a few NSW buyers.
“The (cattle bought by) volume buyers here yesterday and today are all staying in Victoria.”
Tim Hutton described the top price pen as having good length, and said it was important to buyers for the cattle to be yard weaned, well handled, have good foot structure and eye pigment.
Paul Mason likes to buy Hereford cattle with weight from 350-410kg and is hoping to take home three to four loads across the week for finishing on his lucerne pastures. The first cattle are turned off in September and the entire mob is sold within 12 months of purchase.
He requires the European Union and Greenhams Never Ever certification on the cattle.
“They need to be grass fed certified and as these cattle will be going into England on a grass-fed contract with JBS, they need the EU protocol to be eligible,” Mr Mason said.
“I buy on genetics and know all the pedigrees backwards. I’m buying a high-performance calf with good weight and growth.”
Mr Mason paid to a top of $1828 for the lead run of “Inverell” steers at last year’s sale and has almost finished turning them off.
“Today’s market is well priced to the fat market – a lot of the calves were $1200-$1250 and will probably sell for $2000 – the vendors and the buyers are happy.”
Vendor John Craig was pleased with the prices for his draft of 195 steers and will offer about 80 heifers on Thursday.
“The cattle are close to eight weeks weaned this year and EU – the EU pens at Casterton seemed to make 10-15c/kg more,” he said.
Alison Woodridge, Dinwooly Farm, Merino, offered 70 yard weaned Hereford and black baldy steers, and was remaining positive about the market.
Alison said the EU accreditation meant no extra work but did result in a premium.
Vendor David Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, Vasey, had set a goal of achieving 300c/kg for his top pen weighing 372kg, and the Bowen, Mawarra, Warwick Court and Melville Park blood, EU accredited steers brought $1171 or 315c/kg to Princess Royal feedlot, Burra, SA.
He will offer 38 heifers at Casterton and expects local restocker competition with the region experiencing good seasonal conditions.
Livestock manager, Aaron Malseed, Elders Hamilton, said the breed was represented by a “very good run” of steers bought by repeat bullock fatteners from central and northern NSW.
“There is definitely a premium for the EU (accredited) Herefords of around 10-15c/kg but overall, the Hereford cattle presented very well, and sold well too,” Mr Malseed said.
“There will be a good run of Hereford heifers to be offered at Hamilton on Thursday with lead cattle from the Beerik, Lochredal, and Inverell herds.”
Quotes
Hereford weaners
Inverell Herefords: 16, 406kg, March/April drop, EU, Greenhams Never Ever, Pasturefed eligible, Yarram Park and Glendan Park blood, yard weaned, $1328 or 328c/kg
Melville Park Herefords: 17, 372kg, Bowen, Mawarra, Warwick Court and Melville Park blood, EU, $1171 or 315c/kg
K & M Mibus & Son, Kalena: 20, Yarram Park and Jaclinton blood, 362kg, March/April drop, yard weaned, $1140 or 315c/kg
Oaklawn: 25, March/April drop, 342kg, Sugarloaf blood, $1067 or 312c/kg
Ashvale: 16, March/April drop, 324kg, Ashrose blood, $1010 or 312c/kg
V & J Howlett: 14, February/March drop, Broadacre sires, 335kg, $1005 or 300c/kg
R Dunn, Karingal: 10, Melville Park and Yarram Park blood, 323kg, February-May drop, Greenhams Never Ever, yard weaned, $975 or 302c/kg
Dinwooly: 41, 313kg, EU, Wolbull and Allendale blood, yard weaned, $973 or 311c/kg
Black baldy weaners
Sandy Camp: 7, 377kg, Feb/March drop, EU, $1184 or 314c/kg
Greenhills: 24, 343kg, $1101 or 321c/kg
Calcarab: 17, yard weaned 348kg, $1086 or 312c/kg
Dinwooly: 9, EU, 347kg, $1083 or 312c/kg
West Hills: 12, March/April drop, 330kg, $1056 or 320c/kg
K Rhook: 15, 347kg, $1051 or 303c/kg
Oaklawn: 16, March/April drop, 295kg, $973 or 330c/kg
Cragmor: 17, Feb/March drop, 284kg, $934 or 329c/kg
Liz and John Craig, “Inverell”, Hamilton and Casterton, received the Herefords Australia champion pen for their 406kg, March/April drop, steers, Yarram Park and Glendan Park blood, bought by Paul Mason, Wellington, for $1328 or 328c/kg.
Michael Petersen, Yarram Park Herefords, with Liz and John Craig, “Inverell” and their Yarram Park and Glendan Park blood steers.
Grass fed steer finisher Paul Mason, Wellington, NSW, with the 76 “Inverell” steers he paid 328-336c/kg or $1226-$1328.
Alison Woodridge and daughter Heidi Woodridge, Dinwooly, sold this pen of 41 steers, weighing 313kg, EU, Wolbull and Allendale blood, and yard weaned for $973 or 311c/kg to Miller Whan & John.
David Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, and farm hand Kaidyn Roberts sold 17 steers, 372kg, Bowen, Mawarra, Warwick Court and Melville Park blood, EU, for $1171 or 315c/kg.
Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann, Rockhampton, was busy buying Hereford steer weaners destined for finishing in northern NSW.
) Ben Mibus and wife Megan, with children Tyson and Jess, Amy Morley with children Luke and Adam, and Kevin and Margaret Mibus sold this pen of 37 Yarram Park and Jaclinton blood steers, 281kg, for $910 or 324c/kg to Elders Gunnedah.
The lead pen of the “Inverell” calves weighed 405kg and carried accreditation for European Union and Greenhams Never Ever and were Pasturefed eligible.
Buyers jostle for a spot on the rail to bid on the run of well weaned Hereford calves with European Union accreditation and all the health treatments at Hamilton.
Lachy Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, SA, Aaron Malseed, Elders Hamilton, and Alvio Trovatello, Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, caught up at the Hamilton sale.
