Lot feeder and backgrounder demand drove Hereford steer weaners to a top of 360c/kg and $1293 at the George and Fuhrmann annual Northern Rivers Hereford and Angus weaner sale.
Selling agents George and Fuhrmann Casino, Warwick, Tweed, Stanthorpe and Bangalow yarded 1314 mixed sex weaners, mostly European Union accredited and PCAS eligible, for the fixture on March 15 at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange, Casino, NSW.
The major buyers in the Hereford steers were Ironbark Herefords, Barraba, NSW, and Wickham Farms, Killarney, Qld.
Among the major buyers was Adrian Spencer, Ironbark Herefords, Barraba, sourcing the heavy end of the steers at an average of 340kg liveweight and 352c/kg for the family’s 1000 head feedlot.
Growth promotant free Hereford steers and heifers are grain finished for 100 days for both supermarket and export customers.
Mr Spencer said carcase feedback had revealed consistently high MSA Index scores, ideal fat cover and, in the feedlot, an average daily gain of 2kg on a barley and silage-based ration.
“Casino always has good lines of well-bred Hereford cattle – we pay a premium for the Ironbark blood cattle as we get the superior weight gains and carcase performance,” he said.
“We collect all the data and benchmark how our client’s and our own commercial cattle perform. The feedlot is averaging a 97 per cent compliance at the top of the grid.
“Bulls with good carcase merit, genetic gain and growth, breed the high-quality cattle that perform in the feedlots.
“There is no doubt good quality Hereford cattle can do as good a job as any breed in the feedlot and we see it as clear as night and day here. Other breeds need to be looking at crossing with quality Hereford cattle into their programs to achieve superior weight gain and kill at the top of the grid.
“We are not out there in the marketplace buying everything as we supply a specialised high-quality product. If we weren’t getting the results, we wouldn’t be doing it – we see the carcase information in real time and can prove what they can do.”
He encourages producers to pre-vaccinate weaners with Bovilis MH + IBR two weeks before feedlot entry to increase immunity and feedlot performance.
“I like to buy a line of calves from the same vendor as they are already socialised and do better in the feedlot. Smaller mobs coming together take time to socialise.”
George and Fuhrmann managing director Darren Perkins quoted the heaviest pen of Hereford steers at 375kg returning 344c/kg while calves weighing 346kg made 350c/kg.
“The heavy calves sold very well with strong competition from EU operators and backgrounders. Repeat buyers Wickham Farms bought 198 steers for their EU grass fed program,” Mr Perkins said.
“Another repeat buyer Ironbark feedlot bought 99 steers and they continue to come over to source quality lines. Both buyers were active in the steers weighing 300kg plus.
“Several Queensland operators stepped and bought the middle weight cattle weighing 260kg to 300kg as backgrounders. The lighter weight cattle sold for 352c/kg or $969 for 275kg steers account Ian Burley, Woodenbong.
“There is a massive demand for Hereford heifers here and they met with strong competition with them making 300-320c/kg all day.
“This sale attracts a lot of repeat buyers and that was seen once again this year.”
Hereford steer weaners weighing over 350kg liveweight returned 343-344c/kg or $1290- $1293 while the lighter steers under 350kg made 348-360c/kg or $964-$1214.
The Herefords Australia champion pen, judged by Cameron Hollis, Lotus Herefords, weighed an average of 329kg and returned 354c/kg or $1164 for the vendor, John and Marie Smith, Glen Ayr, Woodenbong.
Their top pen of 312kg calves, EU accredited, made the sale top on a cents per kilogram basis of 360c/kg or $1122, and on a dollars per head basis with calves weighing 376kg and returning $1293.
Jim and Jan Smith, Townview, Urbenville, sold 334kg Hereford steers to a top of 358c/kg or $1197.
George and Shirley Hardcastle, McPherson Herefords, Old Kooreelah, sold 321kg steers for 358c/kg or $1151. The couple also had the champion pen of Hereford heifers which topped at $800 while the seconds sold for $760 to repeat buyers Daryl and Rhonda Amos, Old Bonalbo, for their Brahman F1 program.
Jamie and Vanessa Smith, Urbanville, received 352c/kg or $1009 for calves weighing 286kg.
Paul and Marian McKey, Bundaleer, Woodenbong, made up to $964 or 348c/kg for their Hereford steers weighing 277kg.
Buyers were able to inspect the cattle in a relaxed manner in the paddock in the run up to the sale with a tour of 10 cow herds and their weaners representing six producers in the Woodenbong/Urbenville districts.
1. John Smith, Glen Ayr, Woodenbong, and his grandson Archie Holden, Roseview, Old Bonalbo, and his Hereford steer weaners which sold for a sale top price of $1293. Images Queensland Country Life.
Buyers line the rail at the George and Fuhrmann annual Hereford and Angus weaner sale where prices topped at 360c/kg.
