George Farmer, Ensay, sold the tops of his black baldy steers to $1460. Photo Kim Woods
Vendors were left open mouthed as buyers kicked up a gear and lifted black baldy heifer prices by over $700 on last year at the Omeo Black sale.
Selling agents Elders Omeo and Bairnsdale yarded 1750 steers and 1250 heifers for the March 3 fixture.
Although the tops of the Angus steers were down on the morning’s Benambra sale at $1640, the black baldies sold to a top of $1470 down to $940.
The lighter end of the Angus steers at 613c/kg were also back on the morning sale where the lighter Hereford end had made 650c/kg.
In the heifers, the pace picked up with lot feeder demand paying $700-$1420 for the big run of black baldies.
Principal buyers included Rodwells Sale, Elders Korumburra, Graeme Ward, Bowyer & Livermore, Killara feedlot, Elders Yea and Landmark Traralgon.
WA Pendergast & Son sold the top price pen of black baldy steers at $1470 to Landmark Traralgon.
George Farmer, Ensay, was pleased to sell 10-month-old black baldy steers for $1460 after receiving a top of $880 last year.
“It was excellent money today – I’m really happy,” he said.
Di Anderson, Benambra, sold black baldy steers to $1440 at Omeo.
Clive and Di Anderson, Benambra, sold their black baldy steers to a top of $1440 to Rodwells Sale.
“This year we kept every heifer and the tops of the steers,” Mrs Anderson said.
The couple received $1420 for their seconds, $1190 for the thirds, and $1090 for the tops of the heifers.
F & D Bulton, Gelantipy, sold a draft of 400 May/June drop black baldy heifers with Greenham’s Never Ever accreditation.
Last year, the tops of the draft had been bought by a Cootamundra feedlot in a single bid of $505 but this year was a different story with buyers jockeying to pay to $1250 – a rise of $745.
Albury commission buyer Graeme Ward paid $1210 for a pen of 100 of the Foulton heifers for Olgivie’s Airlie Feedlot, Victoria.
W A Pendergast and Son topped the black baldy heifers with a pen of European Union accredited females making $1300.
Quotes
Steers
W A Pendergast: 24, $1470
G Farmer: 23, $1460
C & D Anderson: 7, $1440
L & D Marshall: 8, $1110
Heifers
WA Pendergast & Son: 31, EU, $1300
F & D Boulton: 28, $1250; 32, $1240; 50, $1220; 100, $1210
G Farmer: 20, $1230
C & D Anderson: 11, $1185
L & S Pendergast: 20, $1110
-Kim Woods