Hamilton weaners pass 800c/kg as second week of weaner sales start

Northern NSW demand to restock underpinned the 4120-head feature sale as much as 80 per cent of the large yarding of cattle went north of the Murray River or south to Gippsland.

Local western district agents said they were rapt with the prices, and while prices were on par with other recent cattle sales, the consistent high prices at the sale remained "red hot" from the first to the last pen.

It was the first of four weaner sales at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange this week, with other sales to take place at Casterton, Yea, Kyneton, Euroa, Wodonga, Pakenham and Naracoorte, SA, this week.

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Last week sales predominately took place in north-east Victoria and SA as sales were held at locations including Wangaratta and Wodonga.

LMB Livestock auctioneer Hugh Douglas, Hamilton, said a large portion of the Angus and Black Baldy yarding featured cattle weighing 350kg and above.

"A lot of calves here today sold in excess of $2300 [a head] with the top calves from $2500-$2800 and in a cents a kilogram price, 580-650c/kg for those heavier calves 380-420kg," he said.

"Once you got onto your lighter calves, the cents a kilogram jumped and calves 300-350kg were making 660-730c/kg and only a sprinkling of calves under 300kg made from 740-800c/kg."

Mr Douglas estimated about 80pc of the yarding would leave the Hamilton district, most bound for northern NSW with several loads destined for restockers in Gippsland.

He said the average weight of the yarding at the sale was 1kg heavier compared to the 2021 sale.

"Generally speaking, we would usually get a load to South Australia but NSW especially really stepped up and we have never seen it like we did today," he said.

Among the feature drafts was 82 Angus steers consigned by the Rees family, Roo Park Pastoral, Telangatuk East, 10-11 months, which included 28 steers, 297kg, for 778c/kg or $2310, and earlier 24 steers, 393kg, for 650c/kg or $2554.

Aringa West Pastoral, Yambuk, sold 96 Angus steers, 10 months, including 16 Angus steers, 400kg, for 642c/kg or $2568.

Coffey Partnership, Port Fairy, sold 106 Angus steers, eight to 10 months, including one of the heaviest genuine weaner pens with 16 Angus steers, 442kg, selling for 616c/kg or $2722.

Calga Pastoral sold 96 Angus steers, nine and 10 months, including 18 steers, 394kg, that made 650c/kg or $2561.

John and Roma McErvale, Cadell, Branxholme, sold 149 Angus steers, 10 months, including 28 steers, 419kg, for 632c/kg or $2648.

BA & AM Linke, Mt Napier, sold 177 Angus steers, nine and 10 months, including 27 Angus steers, 422kg, for 616c/kg or $2599, and 75 steers, 365kg, for 696c/kg or $2540.

Camp Creek sold the first pen of the sale with 26 Angus steers, 423kg, for 608c/kg or $2571.