MERRIWA producer Michael Rapley, “Faversham”, is a step closer to a Wagyu/Angus breeding operation following the sale of 100 Hereford and black baldy cows with calves at Tamworth last Friday.
Mr Rapley, who manages the property for Crown State Pastoral, said the good prices – up to $1750 for cows with calves – were a bonus as the units were being sold as part of a change in production.
“We’ll just be keeping straight Angus females and joining them to a Wagyu bull to produce F1 (first-cross) calves,” he said.
“The change was going to be more gradual but the market has allowed us to do it in a shorter amount of time.”
All 1100 breeders at the Merriwa property will be joined to Wagyu bulls.
“We’re looking to sell the F1s as 220kg to 240kg weaners,” Mr Rapley said.
“F1 calves are already selling for twice as much as some other breeds.”
Gloucester steer prices surge
STEERS sold to $1675 at the Gloucester store cattle sale last Thursday.
Gooch Agencies principal James Gooch, Gloucester, said the 400 head yarding sold strongly.
"Yearlings and older steers sold $40 to $60 dearer," Mr Gooch said.
"The big lift was in the weaner steers, selling $100 stronger on the previous sale."
Highlights of the sale were Jack Ireland, Bulahdelah, sold Angus weaner steers to $1030 to C. Maley, Wingham, and Warren Pullbrook, The Branch, sold Angus weaner heifers to $980.
Bill Carter, Curricabark, sold Hereford bullocks for $1675 to James Landers, Dungog, and Bevan Butler, Krambach, sold Shorthorn-cross cows with calves for $1550 to Rick Paff, Krambach.
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Heifers hit $1636 at Braidwood
HEIFERS sold to a top of $1636 at the Braidwood monthly store cattle sale last Friday.
Landmark account manager Paul Costigan, Braidwood, said the 1020 head yarded included 872 scale cattle and 148 store cattle.
"Quality of the yarding was mixed and prices were back on the previous sale," Mr Costigan said.
In store sale summary steers sold to $750, while heifers sold to $695 and cows with calves sold to $1950.
He said buyers travelled from Moruya, Canberra, Bega, Goulburn, Yass, Harden, Crookwell, Cooma, Wagga Wagga, Moss Vale, Bungendore and the local area to attend the sale.
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60-year low for NZ lamb supply
ACROSS the ditch the sheep farmers were dealt a pretty tough autumn and it’s now showing through with reports the New Zealand lamb supply will be the smallest in almost 60 years.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Lamb Crop 2015 Report estimates the number of lambs marked in the spring of 2015 was down 1.73 million head (6.7 per cent), to 23.9 million head.
There were a few key factors at play including the number of breeding ewes were 4.5pc lower than 2014 (as at July 1 2015), at 18.9 million head – largely attributed to drought conditions during 2014-15; lower lambing percentages across most of the country, due to tight feed supplies in the lead up to winter, and fewer hoggets were mated – the number of lambs from hoggets declined 7.3pc from 2014, to 1.07 million head.
As a result, for the first quarter of the 2015-2016 season (September to November 2015), NZ lamb slaughter is forecast to total 4.53 million head – 4.3pc below the corresponding period the previous year.
In short, Meat and Livestock Australia suggest this means that Australia’s major competitor for lamb exports will have reduced lamb export availability over the coming year.
However, Australia’s capacity to capitalise on this advantage will be somewhat constrained, as Australian lamb supply is expected to be tighter in 2016 as well.
Dubbo restockers chase Herefords
WHITEFACE cattle seem to have been dominating the store cattle market at Dubbo in recent weeks.
Eight- and nine-month-old Poll Hereford steers have dominated the sale’s market toppers in the past fortnight making more than $1100 a head.
Narromine based Bob Barnett cranked up restocker interest on November 20 with his 134 steers topping at $1650 to average $1076, then last Friday 90 same-aged steers from the Dakin family, “Corrodgery”, Dubbo, topped at $1180 and averaged $1109.
Opting for the heifers instead
AS RESTOCKERS vie for store stock enhancing sales on top of excellent prime cattle sale results, not all are heading for steers.
Elders Dubbo livestock manager Martin Simmons was reflecting on last week’s Dubbo store cattle sale when he said that in general, heifers were selling at about $200 a head less compared to steers the same age.
“It’s no wonder graziers were looking to females,” he said.
“They’re cheaper, but can recover their costs many times through their calves.”
That may sum up the current strong prices being paid for heifers and cow with calf units.
Cows with calves were in big numbers with 400 units sold last Friday, begging Mr Simmons comment that it may have been the largest number in the state selling as stores at present.
Setting the level with saleyards
NORMALLY of quiet disposition, Paul Dakin of P.T. Lord, Dakin, Dubbo, remarked that more than 8000 cattle sold through Dubbo saleyards last week (6000-plus on Thursday’s prime sale and 2200 in Friday’s store sale) at unprecedented levels for volume and value per unit for this time of year.
“Friday’s very strong rates continued from Thursday’s foundation,” he said.
“This is where competition in the open auction system is transparent as it establishes new levels in the beef marketplace.”
Roma, Qld, light steers hit 406c/kg
About 6750 cattle were sold at Roma’s store sale in Queensland on Tuesday.
Weaners weighing less than 220 kilograms topped at 406 cents a kilogram and averaged 362c/kg, while those from 220kg to 280kg topped at 392c/kg.
Steers from 280kg to 350kg topped at 365c/kg and averaged 334c/kg, while 350kg to 400kg reached 352c/kg and averaged 328c/kg.
Feeder steers from 400kg to 550kg topping at 342c/kg.
Heifers weighing 350kg to 450kg topped at 322c/kg and averaged 272c/kg; 280kg to 350kg topped at 338c/kg and averaged 299c/kg; 220kg to 280kg topped at 342c/kg and averaged 309c/kg, while heifers weighing less than 220kg topped at 352c/kg and averaged 317c/kg.
Cows above 500kg topped at 247c/kg and 400kg to 500kg lines hit 240c/kg.
The cows from 300kg to 400kg sold to 220c/kg and averaged 191c/kg.
Angus-cross pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers sold to $1220 and averaged $1040, while Brangus cows with calves sold to $1370.