TASMANIAN purchasers were significant buyers during the Wodonga Premier Annual Angus Grown and Weaner Sale held at the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange on January 3.
Phillip Rattray from north-east Tasmania was one of the major buyers that secured 340 Angus steers for around $750 a head on average, including a draft of 120 Reiland blood steers weighing 209 kilograms from Coolong Pastoral Company, Torong, Hay.
Mr Rattray said he was looking for smaller cattle that would land at home for around $800 per head.
Despite the dry conditions being experienced by many producers in Victoria and NSW, Mr Rattray said the season for them back in Tasmania had been very good, in fact possibly one of the best he had seen.
“With the strength of the market back in Tasmania due to the great season, it was about $300 cheaper per head to purchase here and then truck and ship them back home,” he said.
Across Mr Rattray’s four properties, with his two sons, he runs 4000 head of Angus cattle all up, 500 of which are breeders and the remaining trading stock.
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“We fatten about 2000 head a year and have sent about 250 over the last two weeks into JBS’ local plant. Usually we send about a load a week,” he said.
“Our older breeders are Lawson Angus blood, but our 360 new cows on our new property are Landfall Angus genetics.”
JBS Australia Longford livestock manager Mathew Bosward also purchased cattle. In total around 850 head, both steers and heifers, are destined for Tasmania.