It should not surprise any who are in the cattle games, whether producer, restocker, agent, feedlot or processor that the 2000 yarded at Thutrsday's store sale at Northern Victorian Livestock Exchange, Wodonga, were in mostly good store condition.
Naturally the weight and style of the yarding was a reflection of the wonderful seasonal conditions in the northeast of Victoria and southern Riverina, but it might also show that vendors have been putting more money into the bulls they are buying.
A feature of the sale was the annual yarding of 550 Wirruna-blood Hereford steers, nine-ten months and yard weaned presented by Tarabah Livestock Company, Mt Narra Narra Station, Holbrook.
The sires used by that operation were selected from Wirruna and were all in the top 15pc for breed eye muscle area and top ten pc for intra-muscular fat.
Another feature of the sale was the offering of 100 Fernhill-blood Angus mixed-sex weaners, nine to 14 months offered by WH and KM Morris, Gooramadda, Victoria.
Indicative prices for steers 300kg to 400kg ranged from $1950 (318kg) to $2405 (371kg), while those less than 300kg sold from $1600 (196kg) to $2055 (258kg).
Steers weighing more than 400kg sold to $2700 (564kg).
In the heifer pens, those weighing 300kg to 400kg sold from $1800 (307kg) to $2150 (371kg): while those more than 400kg sold to $2270 (431kg) and those less than 300kg sold to $1810 (286kg).
Sales of steers included 25 Angus, weighing 400kg and sold by Burnbrae Crossing, Gerogery, for $2395, JA and GA Knobel, Gerogery, sold 15 Angus weighing 394kg for $2390 and Catherine Hutton, Corowa, sold 12 Charolais, weighing 395kg for $2180.
Other steer sales included 10 Angus weighing 289kg sold by WH and KM Morris, Gooramadda, Vic, for $2010, nine Angus weighing 298kg sold for $2030 on account GT and JM Elliot, Bowna and nine black baldies weighing 246kg sold for $1960 for Ian Cesa, Tintaldra, Vic.
Heavy steers sold for $2700 when Fred Nixon, Moyhu, Vic, yarded eight Simmentals; Magic Glenn Farm, Walwa, Vic, received $2340 for their three Rennylea/Anvil Angus-blood weighing 528kg and Kevin and Lynne Jones, Sandy Creek, Vic, sold nine Angus weighing 479kg for $2600.
Sales of the Tarabah draft included 30 weighing 307kg for $2160: 102 weighing 274kg for $2025, 167 weighing 254kg for $1925, 32 weighing 227kg for $1775 and 34 weighing 196kg for $1600.
In the heifer pens, 19 Witherswood Angus-blood weighing 358kg sold for $2050 on account WJA and DL Ferguson, Rennie: ten Angus weighing 316kg sold by Selzer Farming Pty Ltd, Ovens, Vic, for $2020 and 18 Angus weighing 307kg sold by BC and AJ Brooks, Talmalmo, Vic, for $1800.
Heavier heifers sold for $2170 when Catherine Hutton, Corowa, penned five Charolais, weighing 471kg and W Godde, Culcairn, sold 18 Angus weighing 414kg for $2230.
The few pens of cows with calves sold from $3360 to $4340 and indicative sales included nine Herefords with second calves sold by Ross Nixon, Rand, for $4040.
Strong support from major feedlots underpinned the market, while restockers for local areas competed with buyers from Finley and Holbrook, and Victorian districts such as Wangaratta and Benalla.
The sale was conducted by Wodonga agencies Elders and Paull and Scollard Nutrien.
- Full report next week
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