Restockers and backgrounders from South Australia, Queensland, NSW and Victoria jockeyed with feeders for quality weaner heifers with European Union accreditation at Casterton.
Selling agents Elders and Nutrien Ag Solutions Casterton yarded 1856 Hereford, Hereford infused and Angus cattle for the Casterton Heifer Weaner Sale on January 12.
The yarding had an average weight of 299kg and average price of 299c/kg.
Active buyers included Willinga Pastoral, Wandoan, Qld, Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen, LMB Livestock & Land, Miller Whan & John, Davidson Cameron, Nutrien Casterton, Elders Korumburra, Elders Mt Gambier, Elders Warrnambool, Ray White Albury, Creek Livestock, Western Districts Pastoral, Nutrien Leongatha, HF Richardson & Co, SEJ Leongatha, Thomas Degaris & Clarkson, Elders Ballarat, Elders Korumburra, and Injemira Beef Genetics.
The autumn drop Hereford heifers weighing 280-350kg sold for $812-$998 or 280-332c/kg while the EU accredited pens made $843-$998 or 288-332c/kg.
The purebreds weighing under 280kg made $575-$985 or 250-310c/kg.
In the black baldies, the heifers weighing over 350kg finished at $1055-$1154 or 310-318c/kg and those under 350kg settled at $928-$1072 or 308-328c/kg.
Topping the purebred pens on a dollars per head and cents per kilogram basis was “Glencairn”, Chetwynd, with a pen of Injemira and Yarram Park blood heifers weighing 310kg. They were bought by Marc Greening, Injemira Beef Genetics, Book Book, NSW, for $998 or 332c/kg.
Mr Greening was sourcing heifers for his joined female program, Injemira Advantage. He also continued a buying spree on behalf of newcomers to the Western District sales circuit, Willinga Pastoral, picking up 74 heifers for their broad scale aggregation at Wandoan, Queensland.
The 41 heifers averaging 284kg purchased by Injemira will be marketed as PTIC lots at Injemira’s annual bull sale in February. They will be naturally joined over eight weeks to low birthweight paternal brothers of Australian record-breaking sire Injemira Redford Q287.
“We do a slightly different job for that heavier weight heifer than we do for the steers and the lighter heifers,” Mr Greening said.
“I’m pretty selective on the heavier EU accredited heifers for the heifer program where they will be joined as future breeders and sold back through our bull sale on the point of calving.
“They will be joined in June for a March calving. We have used proven calving ease Injemira Redford sires over the last few years. The feedback has been good from clients buying heifers and calving them out.”
“Part of the diversification of our business model in terms not relying solely on finishing steers for grass is factoring in cash flow at different times of throughout the year. Buying these quality Injemira blood heifers means we can stand behind the product.”
“In a market like this, you just have to buy the ones that suit from genetics, weight and quality (parameters) so you pin the ears back. For a kill job on those lighter heifers, you are looking at that $700-$800 mark.”
“Carinya” sold the top priced black baldies – a pen of nine March-April drop weighing 363kg, EU accredited and returning $1154 or 318c/kg. Jack and Mark Storer, Kleenview Pastoral, Hotspur, topped the black baldies on a cents per kilogram basis with December/January drop calves, 333kg, and making 322c/kg or $1072.
Greg Farquharson, Bushy Park Angus, Dergholm, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen, selecting 28 EU accredited heifers, Mawarra, Bowen, Kidman, Warwick Court and Guilford blood, from David and Olwyn Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, Vasey. Mr Farquharson liked the heifer’s shape, eye pigment, and accreditation with the pen selling for $843 or 288c/kg to Miller Whan & John, Mt Gambier.
David Lyons sold 38 heifers and retained 80 heifers, classing them on size, conformation and doing ability.
Bill and Kathy Lambert, Taronga, Paschendale, averaged 300c/kg or $819 for their draft of 44 heifers weighing an average of 270kg and have tracked their market trend over the years.
Mr Lambert classes his heifers on conformation and temperament. The top pen of Taronga heifers sold for $904 or 315c/kg as backgrounders for a lotfeeder.
Dale Sullivan, Shallum, sold his top pen of 25 EU heifers, 284kg, Injemira and Melville Park blood, for $891 or 314c/kg, quoting the price as firm. He offered a total of 59 heifers and retained 40.
“It is a rain driven restocker market. These cattle have gone to a genuine breeder,” he said.
Quotes
Herefords
Glencairn: 16, Injemira and Yarram Park blood, $998 or 310c/kg
Butchers: 24, EU, Feb/March drop, Taronga blood, 318kg, $985 or 310c/kg
Glenside: 10, Banemore and Ennerdale blood, EU, 320kg, $953 or 298c/kg
Strathlea: 16, March/April drop, Melville Park and Wilkah blood, EU, $939 or 302c/kg
Woranga: 29, Yarram Park, EU, 296kg, $911 or 308c/kg
Taronga: 20, EU, Taronga blood, 287kg, $904 or 315c/kg
Shallum: 25, EU, 284kg, Injemira and Melvile Park blood, $891 or 314c/kg
Lambert: 14, Taronga blood, EU, 287kg, $861 or 300c/kg
Melville Park: 28, EU, Mawarra, Bowmont, Kidman, Warwick Court and Guilford blood, 293kg, $843 or 288c/kg
Village View: 11, March/April drop, Taronga blood, $820 or 280c/kg
Fassifern: 10, March/April drop, Boonaroo blood, $812 or 282c/kg
Karingal: 10, EU, March/April drop, Injemira and Melville Park blood, 266kg, $808 or 304c/kg
Rosebank: 17, EU, 258kg, $758 or 294c/kg
Black baldies
Carinya: 9, March/April drop, 363kg, EU, $1154 or 318c/kg
Woodlands: 17, March/April drop, EU, 358kg, $1109 or 310c/kg
Shallum: 5, EU, 350kg, $1085 or 310c/kg
Kleenview: 15, Dec/Jan drop, 333kg, $1072 or 322c/kg
Glencairn: 14, 325kg, $1040 or 320c/kg
Welbanite: 12, March/April drop, 325kg, $1001 or 308c/kg
Bill Lamber, Taronga, Paschendale, Neil Cooper, Elders Casterton, and Kathy Lambert. The Lamberts sold EU heifers, Taronga blood, 287kg, for $904 or 315c/kg.
Geoff Lambert, Lambert Pastoral, sold Taronga blood heifers, EU, 287kg, for $861 or 300c/kg.
Kaiydn Roberts and David Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, and judge Greg Farhquarson, Dengholm, and the Herefords Australia champion pen.
Kaidyn Roberts and David Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, Vasey, received the champion pen.
Second generation Hereford breeder, Manny Carlin, “Butchers”, sold Taronga blood heifers, 318kg, for $985 or 310c/kg.
Jeoff and Jill Hortle, “Woranga”, sold Yarram Park blood, EU heifers weighing 296kg, for $911 or 308c/kg.
Miller Whan & John, Mt Gambier, were major buyers across the weaner sales of Hereford steers and heifers for backgrounding and feeding.
The Herefords Australia champion pen was weaned, EU accredited and had all the health treatments.
The Mawarra, Bowen, Kidman, Warwick Court and Guilford blood heifers in the champion pen.
Agents operated on the Hereford heifers for restockers and backgrounders in Qld, SA, NSW and Victoria.
The Elders Casterton team take bids on the Hereford run.
The Nutrien Ag Solutions Casterton team taking bids.
The Hereford run opened on the champion pen.
Dale Sullivan, “Shallum”, Strathdownie, sold his top pen weighing 284kg, Injemira and Melvile Park blood, for $891 or 314c/kg.
