Day two of George and Fuhrmann’s annual three-day weaner sale at Casino delivered strong steer prices, topping above $1335 for weaner steers, 10 months, with large volume buyers slugging it out for top bid and later complaining about high price.
Steers dominated the sale, with 2248 up for auction, topping the sale at $1536 for an 11 month old Charolais cross weaner calf, grass reared and grain finished, out of a Hereford/ Simmental cow, 470kg at 327c/kg, sold by Nathan and Kim Charters, East Coraki.
Heifers were far fewer, 229 in total, which topped at $1049 while most went for less averaging $727 at 280 cents per kilogram and ranging in price from 348c/kg for first cross cows to 251c/kg for Charolais cross.
“It was a steer sale,” reminded Murwillumbah’s Max McCabe who, with his son Clint, sold Charolais steers out of Brahman/ Hereford cows, 392kg at 341c/kg or $1335 to Noel and Liz Cook, Kindon Station, Goondiwindi, who returned after judging last week’s Hereford sale to specifically buy prime show steers for the Ekka.
The Cooks also bought another pen from the Furhmann family, Mummulgum, paying slightly more at 359c/kg or $1275 for a pen of Charolais cross steers out of Santa Gertrudis/ Hereford cows.
Ron and Colleen Dean, Mallanganee, sold Simmental/ Hereford steers 387kg at 3.24 cents per kilogram or $1254 to repeat buyer Greg Upton, Walcha whose grass-finished system and environment makes best use of European cross, with 50 percent of the genetics Charolais or Simmental, although this season has been poor and cattle are on agistment.
For what the future holds in beef Mr Upton, who came away with 268 steers, said prices at Casino on Thursday were a bit too high and he would be carrying steers for longer on grass to make up the shortfall.
Rob Sinnamon, manager Yulgibar Station bought 169 steers EU accredited and non-EU, some of which will go on improved Rhodes Grass and others onto oats at both the station’s Broadwater and Tooloonki divisions.
“We thought the sale was very strong considering the downward trend but you would go a long way to see a better line up of steers anywhere in the country. Being Eastern Fall bred they can go anywhere and perform and we were happy to get a few of them.”
Paul and Stephen Boland, Coraki, topped at $1317 for 382kg at 345c/kg.
Rodney and Jenny Botfield, Mummulgum, sold Charolais cross steers 340kg at 321c/kg or $1091 and were pleased with the price but were somewhat disappointed with their pen of champion heifers, 326kg at 270c/kg or $881 saying lesser quality calves returned 15c/kg dearer at a store sale last month.
Bruce and Sandra Jorgensen, Mallanganee, topped the sale for heifers with a pen of Simmental cross, 322kg at 326c/kg selling for $1049 to Rob Kelly, Rajandamm Partnership, Coraki, who was looking for different blood and was pleased with the sale.
A pen of brindle Brahman Hereford cross heifers by Joshua James, Baryulgil, sold for nearly a dollar more than its Charolais cross neighbours at 348c/kg showing the demand for first cross type females, with Brody Budd, “Dorchester” Wandoan the buyer. Mr Budd was by far and away the champion volume buyer on the day.
Geoff Yates, Mummulgum, sold Charolais steers out of Santa/Hereford cows 344c/kg at 300kg to bring $1032. He also bought feeder heifers averaging 280c/kg at 280kg or $784 for his father-in-law Terry Boyle, who has property at Condamine and Surat.
“We found for steers going onto grass right through feeder weights that they were selling right at the top of our range and for 50c/kg difference between the heifers we found those lines buyable,” he said, noting on the cattle quality as being “magnificent”.
David Scarrabelotti bought a small pen of tail-end heifers and relished the change in temperature from last year’s Casino weaner sale, saying “We’re back to the point where we might survive as processors”, and reminded disappointed producers that they were accepting of 240c/kg for vealers “on the way up” only a few years ago.