Lot feeders and grass finishers went head-to-head in the Western District sales at Casterton pushing prices to $1270 for autumn drop Hereford steers.
Selling agents Elders and Nutrien Ag Solutions yarded 1093 Hereford, Hereford infused and Euro steers for the Casterton Hereford and Euro Steer Weaner Sale on January 10.
The sale averaged 311c/kg for steers weighing an average of 318kg.
Active buyers included Princess Royal Station, Burra, Miller Whan & John, Mt Gambier, TDC Livestock Penola, Nutrien Bendigo, Nutrien Kerang, Nutrien Deniliquin, Nutrien Cohuna, Southern Grampians Livestock, O’Connor & Graney, Midfield Group, Elders Ararat, Creek Livestock, Injemira Beef Genetics and Willinga Pastoral, Qld.
In the pens weighing over 350kg liveweight, prices finished at $1033-$1270 or 294-326c/kg and the European Union accredited pens made $1115-$1250 or 308-326c/kg.
Hereford steers weighing 280-350kg returned $781-$1087 or 284-322c/kg. The EU pens made $887-$1087 or 292-316c/kg.
The lighter weight steers under 280kg settled at $530-$897 or 260-330c/kg, and the EU pens made $530-$887 or 284-330c/kg.
The Hereford infused pens sold for $921-$1283 or 300-310c/kg.
Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann, buying for Princess Royal Station, Burra, South Australia, and Marc Greening, Injemira Beef Genetics, Book Book, NSW, buying for himself and Willinga Pastoral, Wandoan, Queensland, bought 40 per cent of the yarding between them.
Mr Greening purchased 233 head including 135 averaging 346kg for Injemira Beef Genetics, for a total average weight of 277kg and average price of $880.
“These are heading to the Willinga aggregation at Wandoan for a grass finishing program for Coles – they may end up in the feedlot for finishing but the target market is the Coles grass fed program,” he said.
“The Willinga manager asked if I could buy steers between $800-$900 in the high 200kg range. It is good buying and solid selling for the vendors.
“The cattle I bought for myself will go into our normal grass finishing programs for Coles Graze. They will firstly go onto pasture and graze early cereal crops in the winter and finish on pasture.”
“There is upside now and the strength is the EU market with processors telling me to concentrate on buying EU cattle to give another marketing option out the other end. I’m buying EU cattle that will either fit Coles or go into the EU market.
“Yesterday (at Hamilton) was really strong, today slightly back but it’s still pretty good. If a seller had seen these prices six weeks ago, they would’ve have signed up for them every day of the week.
“The market is on the move and I’m looking to secure as many cattle as I can now as I can see a strong outlook in the coming months. A big thing for the Hereford breed is the EU market – it will be strong and that is good for the breed and the vendors who have stuck with their EU accreditation.”
Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann said the weights at Casterton were perfect for Princess Royal feedlot, with half being EU accredited and the balance non-EU.
“Princess Royal is after steers from 360kg upwards and there was a lot of cattle at those weights,” Mr Homann said.
“I paid around 310-316c/kg for EU and non-EU with the cattle being backgrounded before going onto feed.”
Greg Farquharson, Bushy Park Angus, Dergholm, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen, selecting a pen of 25 Injemira blood March/April drop steers weighing 396kg presented by Cam and Carolyn Emerson, Alva Downs, Tahara.
Princess Royal bought the pen for $1251 or 316c/kg.
The McDonald family, “Sunningdale”, sold the top price Hereford pen of 13, March/April drop, Banemore blood, weighing 402kg, and returning $1270 or 316c/kg.
Jeoff and Jill Hortle, “Woranga”, topped the sale on a cents per kilogram basis at 330c/kg for calves weighing 238kg and selling to Elders Ararat. The top price Hereford infused pen was Hereford/South Devon cross, 414kg, sold by the Kerr family, “Glenaulin”, for $1283 or 310c/kg.
Cam and Carol Emerson offered a draft of 120 Hereford steers and decided to retain all heifers following the good falls of rain.
The couple sold their spring drop steers in October direct to a regional feedlot. They select their homozygous polled bulls on calving ease, milk, and fat cover. Their Simmental infused heifers are sold as breeders on the export market to China.
Bill Lambert, Taronga, Paschendale, keeps track of his averages each year with the figures telling liveweights have remained relatively stable while the market has fluctuated wildly.
This year the draft of 102 steers averaged $915 or 311c/kg.
He said the growth of the grass-fed beef brands was positive news for the Hereford breed.
Jason Koch, “Rosebank”, Dergholm, sold his top pen of 40 Herefords, Wilkah and Injemira blood, weighing 344kg for $1087 or 316c/kg to O’Connor & Graney, Mt Gambier. The family offered around 190 yard weaned Hereford and Simmental steers finished on ryegrass and clover pastures.
Jason prefers the Hereford breed for its weight gain, temperament and doability.
Dale Sullivan, “Shallum”, Kilara, sold his 263kg steers to Marc Greening on account of Willinga Pastoral for $843 or 320c/kg.
Elders Casterton livestock agent Sam Tooley quoted the average price of 311c/kg as exceeding expectations.
“We had support from South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and NSW – the heavier Herefords were around 310-320c/kg and the Euro steers averaged 315-320c/kg. The middle run fluctuated the most but averaged 311-315c/kg for 290-330kg calves,” Mr Tooley said.
“Lighter calves made from 315-330c/kg. Consistently across the board it was 310-320c/kg. The cattle destined for Princess Royal will be backgrounded, and they provided great support for the whole sale, especially on the heavier end.”
Mr Tooley said Friday’s Casterton heifer sale would feature 800 Hereford and Euro cross heifers in a total yarding of 2000 head.
He said the 5500 head sold across the week equated to a “massive” economic injection for the local community resulting in a reinvestment in capital infrastructure and genetics.
Quotes
Steers
Sunningdale: 13, March/April drop, Banemore blood, 402kg, $1270 or 316c/kg
Alva Downs: 25, March/April drop, Injemira blood, EU, 396kg, $1251 or 316c/kg
Avon Park Oakley: 24, Allendale and Taronga blood, 378kg, $1152 or 305c/kg
Butchers: 12, February/March drop, Taronga blood, 374kg, $1151 or 308c/kg
Glenside: 18, EU, March/April drop, Ennerdale and Banemore blood, 369kg, $1144 or 310c/kg
Sutherland Hills: 12, EU, March/April drop, Yarram Park blood, 361kg, $1119 or 310c/kg
Wilkah: 14, EU, March/April drop, Wilkah blood, 353kg, $1115 or 316c/kg
Rosebank: 40, Wilkah and Injemira blood, EU, $1087 or 316c/kg
Karingal: 13, EU, March/April drop, Injemira and Melville Park blood, 342kg, $1039 or 304c/kg
Springbank: 21, Ennerdale blood, 347kg, $1034 or 298c/kg
Taronga: 35, EU, 328kg, Taronga blood, $1010 or 308c/kg
Strathlea: 10, March/April drop, Melville Park and Wilkah blood, 334kg, $1008 or 302c/kg
Village View: 6, March/April drop, Taronga blood, 345kg, EU, $1000 or 290c/kg
Lambert: 17, Taronga blood, EU, 325kg, $955 or 294c/kg
Bindi Lees, Tallara Holdings, Miga Lake, and Marc Greening, Injemira Beef Genetics, Book Book, NSW. Marc bought 233 head for an average weight of 277kg and average price of $880 for grass fed programs.
James Brown, Ray White Albury and Holbrook, left, and Peter Homann, Elders, Rockhampton, were active on the Hereford draft at Casterton. Peter was buying for Princess Royal Station.
The champion pen was European Union accredited, PCAS eligible, grass fed and antibiotic free.
Cam and Carol Emerson, Alva Downs, Tahara, were awarded the champion pen by judge Greg Farquharson, Bushy Park Angus, Dergholm.
The Herefords Australia champion pen of 25 steers were March/April drop, weighed 396kg, EU and Injemira blood and sold for $1250 or 316c/kg.
Dallas Oakley, Avon Park, Dartmoor, SA, sold Allendale and Taronga blood steers, 378kg, for $1152 or 305c/kg.
The Elders Casterton team take bids on the opening pens.
Cam and Carol Emerson, Alva Downs, Tahara, were thrilled to win the Herefords Australia champion pen at Casterton.
Jason Koch, Rosebank, Dergholm, sold this run of 40 steers, Wikah and Injemira blood, 344kg, for $1087 or 316c/kg.
Bill, Hannah, Ashley and Kathy Lambert, Taronga, Paschendale, sold their top pen weighing 328kg, Taronga blood, for $1010 or 308c/kg.
The Nutrien Ag Solutions Casterton team sell the champion pen.
Dale Sullivan, “Shallum”, Killara, sold his pen weighing 263kg for $841 or 320c/kg to Willinga Pastoral.
Ange, Andrew and Will Lyons, Wilkah Herefords, Vasey, sold March/April drop steers, Wilkah blood, 353kg and EU for $1115 or 316c/kg.
