Ian Ross, “Trevallas Park’’, Sandford, was pleased to sell autumn drop heifers, Oak Downs and Kerlson Pines blood, to $1030 or 360c/kg.
Lot feeders set the pace in the whiteface pens at the Elders and Landmark combined heifer weaner sale, with Herefords hitting $1330.
Selling agents yarded 1800 Hereford, Black Baldy and Angus heifer weaners for the January 19 fixture at Casterton in Victoria’s Western Districts.
The Elders yarding of 853 head averaged $1072, with vendors reporting averages of $240, or 100c/kg on their middle runs, up on last year.
In the Hereford pens, a limited selection weighing over 350kg sold for 351-361c/kg or $1285-$1316.
Heifers weighing 250-350kg returned 338-403c/kg or $930-$1330 – a softening of 3c/kg on the Hamilton All Breeds sale the previous day.
The lighter pens weighing 250kg and under made 340-386c/kg or $760-$931 – a rise of 16c/kg on the previous day’s sale at Hamilton.
Black Baldy heifers sold for 352-373c/kg or $155-$1227
As a comparison, Angus heifers sold to a top of 400c/kg and $1352, with the opening run making 368-384c/kg or $1083-$1352 for pens averaging 250-350kg.
Andrew Wahn, Miller Wahn & John, Mt Gambier, backed up from the previous day to dominate the whiteface yarding, buying more than 230 head destined for the Ogilvie’s Airley Feedlot at Apsley, and South Australian restockers.
Mr Wahn paid 353-380c/kg or $940-$1208 for heifers weighing 254-309kg.
Wodonga commission buyer Duncan Brown was buying heifers for the Bundalong based Ovens Junction feedlot which finishes for Coles.
Mr Brown paid 340-371c/kg or $795-$999 for heifers weighing 227-276kg.
Seedstock producers Marc Greening, Injemira, Wagga, Michael McCourt, Woakwine Station, Beachport, SA, and Yarram Park’s Western District Pastoral Company were also active on the restocker lines.
Mr Greening paid 364-366c/kg or $1055-$1072 for heifers in the 290-295kg bracket.
The balance of the yarding was booked to Elders Naracoorte, Landmark Casterton, Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen, Naracoorte, Phelan and Henderson & Co, Leongatha, and Everitt & Seeley, Pakenham.
Topping the whiteface pens on a cents per kilogram and dollars per head basis was Clyde Lawrence, “Karingal”, Casterton, at 403c/kg or $1330 with a pen of Injemira and Yarram Park blood heifers, EU accredited, and 330kg, to JM Ellis & Co, Hamilton.
Opening the Hereford run was a pen of Taronga blood, 321kg and EU accredited heifers sold by Bill and Geoff Lambert, Taronga, Paschendale, for $1155 or 360c/kg.
They were bought by Woakwine Station’s Michael McCourt as breeders – Woakwine finishes Herefords within a large scale organic beef enterprise.
Ian Ross, “Trevallas Park’’, Sandford, was on hand to see his Oak Downs and Kerslon Pines blood heifers, 286kg, sell for $1030 or 360c/kg to Miller Wahn & John.
“Last year I sold the heifers earlier in December at 295c/kg due to the season,’’ he said.
“Last week my steers averaged 342kg at an average price of 365c/kg.
“I like the Hereford temperament, they are easy to manage and have been selling at the same rates as the black cattle in the last few years.’’
Jeoff and Jill Hortle, “Woranga’’, Casterton, were keen to see their Bowmont blood heifers sell to a top of $1022 or 355c/kg to lot feeders at Casterton after retaining 40.
Their top pen of steers sold last week for 367c/kg to JBS Australia, while the seconds at 260kg sold for 412c/kg to Injemira Beef Genetics.
“The middle run of steers sold for 387c/kg or $240 up on last year,’’ Mr Hortle said.
“Last year, our top heifers weighed 285kg and sold for 279c/kg, with the seconds at 280kg making 266c/kg.
“This year the tops weighed 288kg and sold for 355c/kg, with the seconds at 220kg making 371c/kg.’’
Jason Koch, “Rosebank”, Casterton, offered 92 Hereford and Simmental-Hereford cross heifers.
He retained 60 heifers and live weights were up marginally despite a wet winter.
Jason expected similar rates to the previous day, and received 335-366c/kg for the draft.
Kevin Upton, “Glencairn’’, Casterton, experienced the best heifer prices in his lifetime of selling at Casterton for over 60 years.
His top pen of Yarram Park and Bowmont blood weighed 275kg and sold for $1034 or 376c/kg, while the Black Baldies made 374c/kg.
Mr Upton sold 150 Hereford, Black Baldy and Angus heifers and has retained 200 in the herd.
“My steers sold $240 a head up on last year last week,’’ he said.
“People now have money to spend on bulls and improvements.
“The sale injects a lot of money into the community.’’
Mr Upton had no expectations going into the sale was prepared to “meet the market’’.
David Lyons, Melville Park stud, Vasey, sold 40 heifers with the top pen weighing 322kg and returning $1124 or 349c/kg – 59c/kg up on last year.
In 2016, his top pen weighed 295kg and made $857 or 290c/kg, while the seconds at 266kg sold for $774 or 291c/kg.
This year, the seconds weighed 291kg and returned $1024 or 367c/kg – a rise of 76c/kg.
“It was a good line up of cattle today – the prices will allow us to catch up on maintenance,’’ Mr Lyons said.
“I have retained 80 heifers and sell some as joined heifers next year.’’
Dale Sullivan, “Shallum”, Casterton, was fresh from selling steers to a top of 417c/kg last week to see his autumn drop Injemira and Melville Park blood heifers return a top of $1072 (366c/kg).
They are destined for the Injemira Advantage program as breeders or trade heifers.
“We appreciate the seedstock support here today,’’ Mr Sullivan said.
“It was going to be good no matter what happens and if you can’t smile today then something is wrong.’’
Top quotes
Karingal: 14, Injemira and Yarram Park blood, 330kg, EU, $1330 or 403c/kg
Butches: 10, Taronga blood, 356kg, EU, $1285 or 361c/kg
Wyuna: 7, Injemira blood, 349kg, $1164 or 338c/kg
Taronga: 19, Taronga blood, 321kg, EU, $1155 or 360c/kg
Sutherland Hills: 13, Yarram Park blood, EU, 308kg, $1133 or 368c/kg
Melville Park: 13, EU, Melville Park blood, 322kg, $1124 or 349c/kg
JRI Partnership: 17, Wilkah, Glenfern, Taronga blood, EU, 308kg, $1108 or 360c/kg
Sunningdale: 20, Banemore blood, 312kg, $1101 or 353c/kg
Top View: 13, Russlyn blood, 308kg, $1093 or 355c/kg
Hazelbank: 7, Wilkah blood, 309kg, $1091 or 353c/kg
Shallum: 13, EU, Injemira and Melville Park blood, 293kg, $1072 or 366c/kg
Glenside: 15, Banemore blood, 305kg, $1058 or 347c/kg
Springbank: 18, Ennerdale blood, 288kg, $1051 or 365c/kg
Strathlea: 10, Melville Park blood, EU, 289kg, $1040 or 360c/kg
Glencairn: 14, Yarram Park and Bowmont blood, 275kg, $1034 or 376c/kg
Trevallas Park: 20, 286kg, Oak Downs and Kerlson Pines blood, $1030 or 360c/kg
Dunorer: 14, Oak Downs blood, 279kg, $1027 or 368c/kg
Karadeen: 12, Banemore and Bowmont blood, EU, 278kg, $1025 or 369c/kg
Retreat: 8, Taronga blood, 289kg, $1023 or 354c/kg
Woranga: 16, EU, Bowmont blood, 288kg, $1022 or 355c/kg
Rosebank: 22, EU, Wilkah blood, 254kg, $930 or 366c/kg