SALEYARDS have been bustling with restockers out in force to secure breeders on the back of widespread rain across southern NSW.
McAlister Saunderson Stubbs agent Rob Stubbs, Tumut, said the presentation of 2130 cattle at the annual Tumut sale last Wednesday was magnificent given the cattle had experienced a tough summer.
“The cattle responded well to the past three weeks of improved weather conditions and overall the sale was a great result for a quality offering of cattle,” Mr Stubbs.
The revived market peaked at $1390 for six young Angus cows with six-week-old Angus calves at foot from Paul and Tracey Sturt, Bombowlee near Tumut; the cattle stayed local as they were bought by Frank Twomey, Tumut.
Regular vendor Betty Roche, Arden Angus, Adelong, sold 12 young Angus cows with young calves at foot for $1320 to Don Whatman, “Bonnie Doon”, Tumut.
Jamie and David Elworthy, Burrenderry Pastoral Company, Gungadai, sold seven Angus/Santa Gertrudis second-calve cows with three- to four-week-old calves at foot for $1320.
The Mason family, “Julong”, Adjungbilly, sold 12 young Angus cows with three- to six-week-old Angus calves at foot for $1300.
All young cows with calves at foot sold upwards of $1100.
The Masons also sold 48, 41/2-year-old Angus cows that were pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) for $1040 to $1060.
The bulk of the PTIC females sold from $850 to $950.
Mr Stubbs said steers sold for 215 to 275 cents a kilogram while heifers sold at rates equivalent to 160c/kg to 205c/kg.
In the steers portion, prices topped at $780 for a pen of 32 Angus and Angus/Santa steers 13 to 14 months old from the Murray family, Boraig Pastoral, Talbingo.
Equalling that money were 46 Angus steers, 10 to 12 from Jim and Barbara Benison, “Buckin-bah”, Darbalara.
Not far off the top price were nine Shorthorn steers offered by John Forster, “Willaway”, Brungle.
Also achieving $770 were 15 Hereford steers, nine to 10 months owned by the Webb family, “Rosemount”, Tumut.
Heifers were well sought after with the top price again achieved by Boraig for Angus/Santa heifers at $585.
Russell and Pat Skerritt, Cleveden Pastoral, Gundagai, sold 45, nine- to 10-month-old Angus heifers for $570 to Paul and Andrea Sturgess, Tumut.
Phil and Di Collins “Greenbank”, Batlow, achieved $570 for his
well presented nine- to 10-month-old Angus and black baldy heifers.
The sale pace steadied at Adelong in the afternoon where 1197 head where yarded.
The top price of $1240 was achieved for a pen of six young black baldy cows with four- to-five week-old calves at foot offered by John and Isobel Crain, “Bangadang”, Mt Adrah.
The remainder of cows with their first calves at foot sold from $710 to $1220.
Competition for PTIC Angus heifers was strong with bidding to $940.
Stewart and Helen Smith, Yaven Creek, sold 23 Angus heifers, due to calve in July for $940.
The bulk of the PTIC heifers sold from $790 to $910.
Elders Adelong selling agent Tim McKean quoted the market for steers at an estimated 220c/kg to 250c/kg and heifers at 160c/kg to 190c/kg.
George and Edith Holt, Darbalara, sold 13, 11-month-old Angus steers for $820, while Robert and Lorraine McMahon, Ellerslie, sold 31, nine-month-old Angus steers for $745.
Laurie and Janette Pearce, “Hillside”, Yaven Creek, sold 68, 10-to- 12-month-old Hereford steers for $750.
Stocking up breeders at Holbrook
HOLBROOK producer Richard Wilton took the opportunity to replenish his breeding stocks at the Tumut and Adelong autumn store sale.
Mr Wilton, “Nioka”, was on the hunt for pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) breeders following the purchase of more country recently – a decision to buy more cattle was helped along by a decent fall of 65 millimetres of rain in the past fortnight.
Between the two markets he bought 69 heifers.
At Tumut he paid to $980 for 11 PTIC Shorthorn heifers due to calve May/June, and $875 for another three of the same description.
At the Adelong sale he bought 55 Angus and black baldy PTIC heifers and cows to a top of $860.
He paid $860 for 18, 61/2- to 71/2-year-old PTIC Angus cows.
Mr Wilton said the market was about where he expected it be on the back of the recent rain, however, he said the Adelong sale was cheaper than Tumut on sale day.
Mr Wilton’s target market for the progeny was feedlots weighing 400 to 500 kilograms.
