Australia-Good start for summer Calf Sales.
AUSTRALIA-CALF SALES START.
Mountain sales kick off
Mountain sales kick off – Omeo and Benambra weaner sales
The 69th annual mountain weaner calf sales kicked off in Omeo and Benambra (Victoria) on Tuesday. There were just over 5,600 cattle offered, primarily Angus, Hereford and their crosses, to a large contingent of buyers. Many of the cattle were purchased by Gippsland buyers, although cattle also travelled interstate with buyers prominent from Trangie (NSW) and Orange (NSW).
The supply area around Omeo, Benambra, along with Ensay and Swifts Creek, showed signs of a poor season, with a limited quality and quantity of feed in many paddocks. It was a slightly larger yarding when compared to last year, while the condition of the cattle offered was not to the level of recent years. However, much credit must be given to producers, as the high standard of breeding was certainly evident and appreciated by the buyers.
The predominately Angus sale at Omeo offered large lines of weaned steers and heifers. Buyers showed a preference for the EU accredited pens, while it was noticeable that they also preferred the weaned cattle, with a price reduction emerging for cattle that were straight off their mothers. There was also a larger number of yearling heifers offered than in previous years, with producers unable to hold onto future breeders due to the harsh season.
At the Benambra sale there was a yarding of mainly Hereford cattle, which also sold to good competition. A large number of the weaner steers were in good condition, due to some crop feeding and the overall reduction in herd numbers across the area.. However, the weights of the heifer portion were not as high as recent sales.
Lightweight Angus weaner steers ranged from $300, to a top of $420/head. The large run of medium weight Angus weaner steers ranged mostly from $470 to $487/head, with estimated liveweight prices from 196¢ to 202¢/kg. The heavy Angus weaner steers averaged $604/head, or around 200¢/kg lwt. The light Angus weaner heifers sold mostly from $311 to $323/head, with the liveweight price in the high 170¢/kg range. Most of the medium weight Angus weaner heifers made from $394 to $416/head.
Medium weight Hereford weaner steers averaged an estimated 193¢/kg lwt, after most sold between $485 to $495/head. The heavyweights sold for around $611/head, or 192¢/kg lwt. Hereford cross Angus lightweight weaner heifers made from $294 to $307/head, as liveweight prices ranged from 166¢ to 183¢/kg.. The medium weight Hereford and Hereford cross Angus weaner heifers sold mostly in the low 160¢/kg lwt range, making between $393 to $405/head.
Ensay and Omeo weaner sales
The second day of the annual mountain weaner calf sales continued at Ensay and Omeo on Wednesday. Around 4,300 predominately Hereford calves were penned, with a large number of Gippsland buyers in attendance. Both sales offered good quality cattle, with some steers and heifers already in slaughter condition.
At the morning Ensay sale, the vast majority of the cattle were weaned, which was certainly appreciated by buyers. Clearly evident was the effort producers put in to present their cattle in best condition, both weaned and unweaned, with the top pen weighing 425kg lwt. Most of the heavy steers were purchased by Gippsland and Melbourne buyers, with some secured by feeders.
The strong competition continued at the afternoon sale at Omeo. Despite excellent breeding, weights were down, while there was a greater tail to the market which impacted overall prices. There was a more diverse group of buyers including some from the NSW and Victorian border regions, with some calves going further a field, with particularly good interest for lightweight weaners. There was strong demand for several lines of renowned breeder heifers that would be put to the bull at a later date. A large number of these were secured by Western District buyers.
Across both sales, the run of Hereford weaner steers averaged close to $494/head, or an estimated 200¢/kg lwt. Most of the medium weights made $490 to $516/head, with the heavy weights making closer to $623/head. The heifer portion sold closer to $465/head, or an estimated 176¢/kg lwt. The medium weight Herefords averaged $428, with the heavy weights making around $503/head.
Benambra weaner sale
The third weaner calf sale was conducted by Sharp Fullgrabe & Co where just over 1,900 head were offered at Benambra. The paddocks in the surrounding area are very bare and this would explain why most of the weaner steers and heifers were lean 1 and 2 scores. The yarding was larger than previous years as producers are forced to offload greater numbers of younger calves.
The majority of the buyers were from north of the border while an order from Hamilton also provided good competition. The breeding of the cattle was again very good with the yarding split almost equally between Hereford and Angus cross Herefords. The yarding of around 1,100 weaner steers averaged 182¢/kg lwt. The medium weight Herefords ranged mostly from $413 to $470/head. The medium weight Hereford vealer heifers averaged $403/head as the whole run of weaner heifers sold close to an estimated 163¢/kg.
