The Casterton Annual Hereford Steer Weaner January 15 featured approximately 1,100 Hereford and Euro steers. The sale showcased 1,037 steers, averaging 366 cents per kilogram (c/kg) or $1,051, with top sales reaching 396c/kg or $1,487.
Bruce “Redders” Redpath, an independent judge and advocate for Herefords, awarded the Herefords Australia Champion Pen to Alva Downs Herefords, owned by Cam and Carol Emmerson. Mr Redpath praised the pen saying they had “good weight for age, pretty even, length, typical really good Herefords, and there’s a big line of them.”
The Emmerson’s sold a total of 104 steers, with their champion pen of 33 steers, averaging 325kg and born between March and April, fetching 370c/kg or $1,300 to a backgrounder in Portland. Mr. Emmerson expressed satisfaction with the results, noting the challenging season: “It’s nice to be rewarded with the best pen and get some good prices.”
Vendor Bindy Lees from Tallara Holdings highlighted the resilience of Hereford cattle, stating, “Our Herefords definitely flipped back exceptionally well [after the dry seasonal periods throughout the year], and our conception rates were 97% in the ones at home and 78% at our farm in Casterton. They are so resilient, and they have the capacity to flip back after a really rotten year, and now they’re all so fat.”
Darce Kentish of Waterloo Ag in Mt Gambier emphasised the value of Hereford genetics in crossbreeding programs: “There’s always going to be a great place for us in terms of crossbreeding. We have a lot of black baldies, and the [Hereford] genetics work well for us.” Their top price pen of 345kg steers selling for 368c/kg or $1260.
The sale attracted buyers from various regions, including Queensland and New South Wales, primarily for backgrounding operations. Commissioned agent Andrew Lowe from Wagga, NSW, purchased cattle for multiple clients across Australia. He mentioned that a portion of the Herefords acquired were destined for the Hunter Valley, where a commercial producer plans to grow them out to bullocks over the next couple of years. Additionally, Marc Greening of Injemira Genetics in Book Book, NSW, purchased 21 Wootong Vale steers weighing 327 kg at 380c/kg for his own operations, along with 99 Hereford steers for a backgrounding operation in Drillham.
The Casterton Livestock Saleyards, renowned for offering premium quality local stock, host the store weaner cattle sales each January. These sales are significant events in the livestock calendar, attracting buyers and sellers nationwide.
Although the sale was marginally down on the previous year, Elders Casterton agent Sam Tooley said there were glimpses of good prices throughout the market.

Bruce Redpath sashes the champion pen of Herefords to Carol and Cam Emmerson, Alva Downs Herefords.

Buyers at Casterton steer sale January 15, 2025

Commissioned buyer Andrew Lowe, Wagga Wagga NSW

Kathy, Hannah and Bill Lambert, Taronga Herefords, Pachendale Vic

Will and Andrew Lyons, Wilkah Herefords

The Champion pen of Alva Downs Steers

The champion pen sells