A TOP quality yarding at the annual Jeogla and Wallamumbi steer sale resulted in strong competition from NSW and Queensland lotfeeders, pushing prices to a record top of $1730 for heavy steers, more than double the top price of $860 at the 2014 sale.
The 1712 European Union-accredited Angus, Shorthorn and Beefmaker cross steers, aged 16 and 17-months, averaged $1445, with most selling to feedlots in the state’s New England, North West, Liverpool Plains and the Central West, as well as southern Queensland.
A pen of 17 heavy steers averaging 538kg topped the sale, with Landmark agent Simon Rafferty purchasing them on behalf of Allan and Correly Gillogly, Montroes Feedlot, Moree.
Repeat client Elders Killara Feedlot, Quirindi bought 157 head for a top of $1660 and average of $1573.
Killara trading manager Andrew Talbot said the Angus cross steers would all be put through a 150-grain program for the Jack’s Creek Angus branded beef products.
“The Jeogla cattle perform in the chiller with good performance in marbling and also perform in the feedlot,” Mr Talbot said.
Bronson McLay, NH Foods Whyalla Beef, bought 263 steers for the Texas feedlot, topping at $1660 and averaging $1519.
Elders Mudgee bought 175 head for a average of $1448 and Thomas Foods International purchased 117 steers for an average of $1484.
Cye Travers, Romani Pastoral Company, Windy Station, Spring Ridge, bought 207 head through Auctions Plus, topping at $1640 and averaging $1483.
Queensland’s Kerwee Feedlot, Jondaryan, purchased 164 head averaging $1454 and repeat buyer Peter Moses, Welcannah Feedlot, Moree, bought 86 steers for an average of $1270.
Sandy and Judy Munro, Weebollabolla Shorthorns, Moree, bought 65 Shorthorn cross steers, by Weebollabolla bulls, for an average of $1606.
Mr Munro, who has been a Jeogla and Wallamumbi client for several years, said all steers will go through the family’s feedlot and monitored for performance.
“I like to buy some of the steers by our bulls each year to follow our bloodlines through and see how they’re performing
”It gives us an indication of which bulls or sire lines are performing and all the carcase data will be linked back into performance data for the stud.”
Jeogla and Wallamumbi Station manager Richard Braham said he was thrilled with the sale, a record for the stations.
“I’ve never seen prices like this in my time here, and the average weights have been hard to achieve with the season, but we got there,” Mr Braham said.
“Big lines of good quality, similar bred cattle, especially EU, are hard to find through any other market, and that’s why the sale was so strong.”
