The much anticipated Southern Weaner Sales started strongly this morning with a solid offering.
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Corcoran Parker had the dubious honour of being the first to host a weaner calf sale in 2018, due to Christmas and New Year falling on a Monday, as it put the Western District sales back one week.
Some attendees commented that this sale lacked a little enthusiasm but it did not lack quality or condition.
Unlike previous years, there were very few cattle weighing below 310 kilograms liveweight, and this kept some competition out of the bidding.
Corcoran Parker took a solo stance this year, offering 2763 Angus steers and heifers, which included a few yearling cattle. Competition was quite varied, despite lacking some of the usual buying force.
Rangers Valley feedlot purchased several pens of EU accredited steers, Hopkins River feedlot was also in the mix, but most of the competition came from local areas through to Wangaratta.
Willis Mobile Contracting, “Pelican Point”, Table Top, NSW, sold 19 yearling Angus steers, 533kgs, for the sales top price of $1490.
The top price for weaned steer calves went to L Nankervis, Laceby, selling 15 steers for $1255. These steers, like others in a weight range of 350-411kgs, equaled 316-325c/kg lwt.
Davilak Pastoral Co, Mansfield, offered their annual draft of 500 steers, which sold to strong demand. Most sold from $1120-$1235, and equaled 310-371c/kg, which set a good standard for the balance of the steers.
While there was not much northern competition, cattle were purchased to return to Forbes. The lack of weight kept these northern backgrounders out of contention for much of the sale.
Lacking competition from feedlots for the heifer portion, had little detriment to the sale. In fact, it gave the little buyer more opportunity to purchase breeders, and fatteners to buy backgrounding heifers. In comparison to sales just prior to the end of December, most heifers sold to dearer trends.
A pen of yearling Angus heifers, 482kgs, sold for $1250, and at 259c/kg this was a firm sale. Despite most of the heifers being in prime condition, there was no processor competition.
