THE heat in the cow and calf market shows little sign of cooling as red-hot prices continue to boost the bank balances of those cattle producers lucky enough to have breeders to sell.
However, for many who are trying to restock, climbing the wall of high prices is quite a challenge.
Only 320 head were offered at Dubbo store sale last Friday, but solid demand for cows with calves forced prices for quality Santa Gertrudis units to $3350.
Cows with calves hit $3500 at Maitland on Saturday and buyers needed at least $2000 to put in a bid.
Droughtmaster breeders with older calves at Grafton last Thursday attracted a top of $3220, while bidding hit a $3000 ceiling at Gloucester on the same day. Up the road at Casino, Sangus units surged to $3620 during the Yulgilbar special female sale.
The first store sale at Forbes for nearly two years attracted bids as high as $3640 for cows with calves.
Victorian agents claim their spot in Royal Competition
CONGRATULATIONS to Jack Ginnane, Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock Leongatha, for taking out the 2020 Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition on Tuesday.
Despite the ever changing environment that comes with COVID-19 and its restrictions, 10 young stock agents from across Victoria showcased their auctioneering skills during the competition held at the Shepparton Regional Saleyards.
The competition is normally held in September, but was delayed due to COVID-19 disruptions last year.
Will Schilling, DMD Horsham, claimed the runner-up ribbon.
Jack and Will will now take on the other state finalists on April 1 at the Sydney Royal Show representing Victoria in the 2021 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition.
Cows dearer at Maitland
COWS with calves were as much as $30 a head dearer, while the rest of the yarding sold to a firm trend during the Maitland store cattle sale on Saturday.
Bowe and Lidbury livestock agent Michael Easey said it was a mixed quality yarding, but the market was very strong for the 925 cattle offered.
"Buyers came from Tamworth, Scone, Bathurst and the local area," Mr Easey said.
Three hundred weaner steers from four to 12 months sold from $1000 to $1750 a head and averaged $1380.
Same-age weaner heifers sold from $700 to $1600 and averaged $1320 in an offering of 150 head.
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The 140 yearling steers averaged a healthy $1725 and most sold from $1700
to $1850, while 60 grown steers sold from $1850 to $1900.
Unjoined heifers ranged from $1400 to $1800, but there was a premium for heifers pregnancy-tested-in-calf and they made $1650 to $2400.
PTIC cows attracted similar buyer attention and sold from $1700 to $2450, while joined cows ranged from $1500 to $2200.
Quality unjoined cows made $1800 to $2000.
Cows with calves were in demand and the yarding of 140 units sold from $2100 to $3500 and averaged $2700.
Mr Easey said there were some strong highlights in the sale and they included a pen of 14 Poll Hereford steers sold by T Ellis, Singleton, for $1670 to CR Crump, Pokolbin.
"Cooreei Pty Ltd, Dungog, sold a pen of Angus cows with calves for $3500 to M and M Thompson of Gresford," he said.
Mr Easey added M and M Thompson also bought another pen of Angus cows with calves for $3200 from Breenhold, St Albans.
The sale was conducted by Bowe and Lidbury, Maitland.
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