Ged Comerford, Mansfield, was pleased to win the champion pen with his 9-10 month-old Poll Hereford steers. They sold to Rodwells for $1155 or 308c/kg.
Southern NSW steer finishers were out in force at the Wodonga Premier Hereford and Euro special store cattle sale on January 10, paying to 401c/kg for whiteface weaners.
It was the first stand alone weaner sale for the selling agents, Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, with a yarding of 1870 Herefords, Black Baldies and Euro cross steers and heifers.
Grown heavy steers, up to 22 months, opened the sale with prices of 284-310c/kg or $1020-$1460.
Topping the purebred offering was Poll Hereford steers, 20-22 months, Lowanna blood and weighing 510kg, from B Hewitt and T Justin, Upper Gundowring, selling for $1440 or 282c/kg.
Moving into the autumn drop 2017 weaners, Hereford steers weighing over 350kg were 6c/kg easier than Hamilton’s Tuesday sale, finishing at 308-319c/kg or $1130-$1155.
Steers weighing 250-350kg also fell 6c/kg on Hamilton to settle at 300-333c/kg or $845-$1105.
The pace picked up in the lightweight steers where restockers paid the sales circuit top for Herefords of 401c/kg.
The category sold for 360-401c/kg or $750-$880.
Mike Walsh, Granite Flat Pastoral, Mitta Mitta, and his grandson Toby Walsh, 2, check out the Granite Flat steers, Mawarra and Bowmont blood. The 330kg, EU accredited steers sold for 327c/kg or $1080.
In the Black Baldy pens, steers over 350kg jumped $43 on the Hamilton sale to finish at $1180-$1200 or 306-320c/kg, while steers 250-350kg were up 17c/kg at 314-342c/kg or $965-$1120.
As an indicator, the tops of the Euro cross steer weaners sold for 295-303c/kg or $1060-$1310.
In the heifer pens, joinable age Hereford and Black Baldy females sold for 265-283c/kg or $970-$1090 while the weaners under 350kg made $670-$1020 or 263-352c/kg.
Cattle were booked to Corcoran Parker, Landmark International, Rodwells Benalla and Wangaratta, H F Francis & Co and commission buyers, including Duncan Brown.
Commission buyer Damian Whyte, Adelong, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen of steers, awarding the sash to Ged and Shelley Comerford, Mansfield.
Their pen of Morganvale and Glen Goulburn blood steers, 9-10 months, weighed 375kg, and sold for the top weaner price of $1155 or 308c/kg to Rodwells.
Mr Comerford had expected $1150-$1200 going into the sale.
“Last year our calves topped at $1390 at Wangaratta but we had to expect a market correction -these prices are still sustainable for us,’’ he said.
“Last year’s prices did help us buy a better type of bull.
“I’m looking for length, temperament and eye pigment – the Herefords suit our country.’’
Topping the sale and the weaner sales circuit so far was Tony and Lyndall Bennett, Dromore Station, Wilcannia, with their pen of Injemira blood steers, aged 8-9 months.
The EU accredited steers weighed 188kg and sold for 401c/kg or $755 to grazier Lachie Macleod, of “Fairview’’, Morundah, NSW.
Mr Macleod was restocking after 154mm of rain had resulted in plenty of summer feed.
“I was after 40-50 head at no more than $780 – these cattle will be grown out for the feedlot at Yanco (JBS Australia),’’ he said.
“I have bought Tarabah bred Hereford calves in the past – I like the quiet temperament of the Herefords.’’
Tony Reardon, Brooklyn Pastoral Co, Mansfield, offered 95 steer weaners, aged 9-10 months, and last year topped at $1390.
His top pen of Mawarra and Centennial blood calves, weighing 358kg, sold for $1145 or 319c/kg to Corcoran Parker.
“Herefords have always been good to us with their weight and temperament,’’ Mr Reardon said.
Mike Walsh, Granite Flat Pastoral, Mitta Mitta, offered 28 Hereford and 23 Black Baldy steer weaners, aged 9-10 months, as well as 37 Hereford-cross heifers.
Mr Walsh said a poor winter and spring had resulted in liveweights being 20kg less than average.
“The market is 150c/kg down on last year but I couldn’t see how the prices could continue and there had to be a correction,’’ he said.
The top pen of Granite Flat Hereford steers made 327c/kg while the Black Baldies made 320c/kg.
Corcoran Parker auctioneer Justin Keane said the sale was consistent on a cents per kilogram with the previous week’s Angus sale and the western district circuit sales.
Mr Keane said the majority of cattle were bought by local steer finishers who had sold bullocks pre-Christmas.
“These people want the first pick of the breeders calves so they can have a proper bullock out the other end,’’ he said.
“Landmark International were active again while restockers from the Riverina with a fresh pick of grass were replacing stock.’’
Mr Keane said lighter weight calves were sought by buyers who had recently sold feeder cattle for $1300-$1400.
“There was plenty of competition in that $800-$900 bracket,’’ he said.
“The calves over 400c/kg were a hell of a result for the person selling them but it was still a dollar amount people can operate at.
“And, 300c/kg on those heavy cattle getting up over $1200 is still a fantastic result.
“Feeder competition on the heifers has gotten stronger, with many making 280c/kg – that’s as good as anywhere in the last 10 days.
“When there are thousands of cattle being sold in Victoria in the first two weeks (of January), everyone is trying to find where they can get the best value.’’
Top Quotes
Steers
G & D Comerford, Mansfield: 25, 9-10 months, Morganvale and Glen Goulburn blood, 375kg, $1155 or 308c/kg; 25, 338kg, $1105 or 326c/kg
Brooklyn Pastoral Co, Mansfield: 27, Mawarra and Centennial blood, 9-10 months, 358kg, $1145 or 319c/kg; 45, 316kg, $1030 or 325c/kg
Mundoora Pastoral Co, Jerilderie: 12, 10 months, Glentrevor blood, 363kg, $1130 or 311c/kg
Granite Flat Pastoral, Mitta: 28, Mawarra and Bowmont blood, 9-10 months, EU, 330kg, $1080 or 327c/kg
Blue Range, Ridge Creek: 8, 9-10 months, 322kg, $1000 or 310c/kg
Tim Tanner, Mansfield: 11, 9-10 months, 276kg, $920 or 333c/kg
Glenalbyn Props, Wilcannia: 19, 8-9 months, Injemira blood, EU, 231kg, $880 or 380c/kg; 14, 188kg, $755 or 401c/kg
Black Baldy steers
G & E Fisher: 3, 10-11 months, 392kg, $1200 or 306c/kg
Granite Flat Pastoral, Mitta: 23, 9-10 months, EU, 368kg, $1180 or 320c/kg
Blue Range, Bridge Creek: 21, 9-10 months, 341kg, $1120 or 328c/kg
Brooklyn Pastoral Co, Mansfield: 12, 9-10 months, 343kg, $1080 or 314c/kg
Heifers
Mardene Farm P’ship: 5, Black Baldies, 14-15 months, EU, 388kg, $1090 or 280c/kg
M & J McNamara, Corryong: 10, Black Baldies, 15 months, 378kg, $1070 or 283c/kg
Ravenswood, Holbrook: 27, Black Baldies, 13-14 months, 374kg, 283c/kg or $1060
Granite Flat Pastoral, Mitta: 16, Hereford/Charolais/Angus, 9-10 months, EU, 347kg, $1020 or 293c/kg; 37, Black Baldies, 9-10 months, EU, 342kg, $990 or 289c/kg.
Blue Range, Bridge Creek: 10, Black Baldies, 9-10 months, 267kg, $940 or 352c/kg
Glenalbyn Props, Wilcannia: 13, 9-10 months, Injemira blood, 232kg, $700 or 302c/kg