Buyer Robert Newnham, Longford, with vendors Max, Ray and Margaret Pendergast, and the record breaking pen of heifers at $1510 at the Benambra Weaner Sale.
A new benchmark was set when Hereford heifers sizzled at the opening Elders fixture of the 77th Annual Mountain Calf Sales with prices reaching a scorching $1510.
A big crowd of buyers and vendors descended on the Benambra yards with selling agents Elders penning 2000 Hereford and Hereford cross steers and heifers on March 14.
Vendors were left smiling as they reported averages for their steer and heifer offerings up as much as $300 on last year.
Lot feeders competed strongly with restockers in the heifer pens, pushing prices beyond $950 on the bigger lines.
The opening pen of 14 Hereford steers, European Union accredited and April-May drop, was sold by Kelvin and Jackie Pendergast, Benambra, for the top purebred price of $1550 to local steer finisher Paul Pendergast.
Ray and Max Pendergast, Benambra, snared the top price of $1510 in the heifers, a new benchmark for the fixture.
Hereford steers sold for $850 to a top of $1550 – a rise of $165 for the purebreds on the Benambra Calf Sale held earlier in the day at Hinnomunjie.
Shorthorn-Hereford cross steers topped the sale at $1610 and a pen of Santa Gertrudis-Hereford cross steers sold for $990.
European Union accredited pens sold for $1060-$1550.
As a comparison, the Angus and Angus cross sale at Omeo the same day steers topped at $1530.
In the heifers, Herefords sold for $750-$1510 – a jump of $460 on the morning sale at Hinnomunjie. Roan baldy heifers sold for $1220.
Buyers attended from Warragul, Myrtleford, Leongatha, Hamilton, Albury-Wodonga, King Island, Cudal, South Australia and the local district.
Peter Sykes, Mawarra Herefords, Longford, judge Jason Ronalds, JBS Australia, Hanna Bourke, Herefords Australia, and vendors Di and Clive Anderson, Benambra, with the Herefords Australia champion pen.
JBS Australia livestock buyer Jason Ronalds judged the Herefords Australia champion pen of steers, awarded to Clive and Di Anderson, Benambra.
The July drop, Karoonda blood steers had been weaned for a month and sold for $1450 to South Gippsland steer finisher Graeme Osborne.
The Andersons offered 500 head across the Benambra and Omeo Angus sales, with their Herefords outselling their Angus calves, same drop, by $30/head.
Jason Ronalds said the Anderson calves exhibited length, bone and finishing potential, and estimated their weight at 370-380kg.
“Ideally today we are looking for feeder cattle weighing 380-400kg but there is not a lot so we have widened the specs to 350kg and over,’’ he said.
“They will be fed in a feedlot in Victoria – there is plenty of competition from agents and producers today.’’
Bairnsdale truck driver Donald Betts was not on hand at the sale to see his Shorthorn-Hereford cross steers ring the bell at the market top of $1610.
The pen of nine August-September drop steers had been finished on country at Omeo.
In the heifer pens, Robert Newnham, Longford, rewrote the record books by paying $1510 for 11 EU accredited heifers from Ray and Max Pendergast, Benambra.
This eclipsed the previous record of $1200 set at last year’s sale.
“Our previous best price here was $1120 last year so this blew us out of the water, especially when bidding started below $1000,’’ Max Pendergast said.
“It’s been a long time coming and it’s good when it does come.’’
Ray and Max had also sold 60 steers to a top of $1440, and quoted their average up by $300 on last year.
A repeat buyer on the Pendergast heifers, Mr Newnham will join the females to an Angus bull for the Black Baldy market.
“I like the Herefords for their temperament – I have bought these heifers over the years and they have grown out well.’’
Richard and Anne Faithfull, Benambra, were pleased to have their top pen sell for $160 above last year’s price. They sold 91 steers and 47 heifers.
“The sale was strong at Benambra in the morning and we were prepared to meet the market,’’ Mr Faithfull said.
David Hill, Elders Omeo, said the sale was solid despite declining seasonal conditions.
Mr Hill said 80 per cent of the cattle sold into a 300km radius of Benambra.
“We had a satisfactory result on a cents per kilo basis on the weight of the cattle we offered,’’ he said.
“A lot of cattle went into South Gippsland and Korrumburra, there were buyers from as far north as Forbes and we also had processors and feedlots from south east South Australia.
“The averages in the early weaner sales were up $200 and our vendors weren’t expecting that so they’re quite satisfied.
“Our averages are up $130-$150.
“The heavy steers were around 355-370c/kg, the middle run were close to 400c/kg, and not many lighter calves sold under $900.’’
ends
Top quotes
Steers
D Betts: 9 Shorthorn-Herefords, $1610
K & J Pendergast: 14 Herefords, EU, April-May drop, $1550
R & S Cornell: 22 Herefords, EU, $1480
R & M Pendergast: 16 Herefords, $1470
C & D Anderson: 27 Herefords, Karoonda blood, $1450
Ray and Max Pendergast: 15 Herefords, EU, $1440
A & J Pendergast: 22 Herefords, Karoonda and Basford blood, $1350
R & A Faithfull: 17 Herefords, EU, $1330
W A Pendergast & Sons: 12 Herefords, $1290
R & D Tomkins: 16 Herefords, $1280
Heifers
Ray & Max Pendergast: 11 Herefords, EU, $1510
K & J Pendergast: 20 Herefords, EU, $1310
D Betts: 6 Shorthorn-Herefords, $1220
Russell & Merilyn Pendergast: 13 Herefords, Sugarloaf and Mawarra blood, $1080
C & D Anderson: 12 Herefords, Karoonda and Mawarra blood, $1060.
A & S Pendergast: 15 Herefords, Karoonda, Basford and Nunniong blood, $1020