Jackie and Kelvin Pendergast accept the champion pen sash from Michael Beattie, Herefords Australia. Photo Kim Woods
Grass fever maintained the momentum to push autumn drop steer prices to a new record of $1660 at the Benambra Weaner Sale.
A big crowd of buyers and vendors descended on the Benambra yards for the opening Elders whiteface fixture of the 80thannual Mountain Calf Sales on March 4.
The selling agents penned 1700 Hereford, Hereford cross and Euro steers and heifers with quality, weight and prices lifting rates on the previous day’s sale at Hinnomunjie.
Hereford steers settled at $750-$1660 – a jump of $150 on the previous day – and European Union accredited pens sold for $1410-$1660.
In the heifers, the EU pens finished at $810-$1450 – a rise of $20 on Hinnomunjie – and the overall run was $760-$1450.
Major buyers included SEJ Leongatha, Gippsland steer finisher Graeme Osborne, Elders Bairnsdale, Schubert Boers, Wagga commission buyer Andrew Lowe, Injemira Beef Genetics, Corcoran Parker, Elders Tamworth, Killara Feedlot, Airlie Feedlot, Alex Scott & Staff Warragul, and Elders Bairnsdale.
The opening pen of W A Pendergast and Sons topped the sale at $1660 with the 17 EU accredited steers selling to SEJ Leongatha.
Greenham’s buyer and pen judge Sean Kallady awarded the Herefords Australia champion pen to first time winners Kelvin and Jackie Pendergast, Benambra, for their pen of 25 European Union accredited steers.
The pen was snapped up by Ron Rutledge, Elders Deniliquin, at $1590 for Australian Food and Agriculture’s Boonooke Feedlot, Conargo, NSW.
The Pendergasts had hoped to exceed their 2017 top of $1550.
One of the bigger vendors was Richard and Anne Faithfull, Benambra, with 119 steers and 54 heifers.
“The steers have been running on improved pastures at Beloka – it has been a good season there so their weights are not too bad,” Mr Faithfull said.
Although he had expected the tops to make $1500, the seconds sold for his top price of $1560 to Ron Rutledge.
“It is good to see everyone smiling – I expect this money will be spent on fertiliser.”
The couple use Mawarra, Sugarloaf and Karoonda genetics and believe the Herefords do well in the high country bush.
The Faithfull’s heifer portion topped at $1200.
Russell Cornall, Benambra , sold this pen of 10 European Union accredited steers for $1560.
David Hill, Elders Omeo, described the sale as an “excellent result”.
“The majority of the cattle sold between $1300 and $1450 in the steers with cattle going to South Gippsland to Tamworth in northern NSW,” Mr Hill said.
“The top heifers made over $1300 but the majority sold between $1200-$1300, with many returning to the paddock for breeding.
“The season at Benambra was a lot better than Omeo and Ensay so the cattle had more weight.
“Mud is going to bring money – a few of those contracts with feeders have been increased in the last seven days going forward for supply in winter.”
Mr Hill said just 20 per cent of the EU accredited cattle were retained in the system.
He said the grass fed Never Ever program was well supplied at Benambra.
Mr Hill estimated the top pen of steers at 430kg and made 386c/kg with the middle run at 500-550c/kg and lighter weights at 600c/kg.
In the female pens, Brian Higgins and son Mark, Glenmaggie, Vic, snapped up the first pen for the top price of $1450 from Kelvin and Jackie Pendergast.
Mr Higgins also secured a second pen from Ray and Max Pendergast for $1230.
“I will take these heifers home, grow them out, join them to produce calves for the black baldy market,” he said.
“I like the hybrid vigour and don’t sell any of the females.”
Russell and Steph Cornall, Benambra, offered 90 March/April drop steers to a top of $1560, and 20 heifers.
“Last year’s prices made breeding cattle barely viable but this year it makes it worthwhile,” Mr Cornall said.
“The money will go towards fertiliser, infrastructure, pasture improvement and bull genetics.
“We use Mawarra, Karoonda, Sugarloaf and Warragundi – I love the Hereford’s doing ability in tough country.
“I run 500 head by myself with no dogs as the cattle are quiet.”
Graeme Pendergast, Benambra, sold 50 steers and 30 heifers, and was impressed with the previous day’s strong rates.
His steers topped at $1540, a big rise on last year’s $970 for the tops.
“Rain will only make it better,” he said.
Taking home 105 heifers was Peter and Sheryl Conlan, Binya, NSW, suppliers to Greenham’s Never Ever grass fed program.
“The Herefords can do it hard and are the best breed for bouncing back after drought,” Mrs Conlan said.
“The steers were just too dear for us so we put together a truck load of heifers and will finish them to trade weights.”
Quotes
Steers
W A Pendergast & Son: 17, EU, $1660; 17, EU, $1450; 17, EU, $1420
K & J Pendergast: 20, EU, $1590; 25, EU, $1560
R & S Cornall: 10, EU, $1560; 17, EU, $1450; 15, EU, $1440; 20, EU, $1420
R & A Faithfull: 32, EU, $1560; 42, EU, $1450;
A & S Pendergast: 17, $1540; 17, $1390
WJC Pendergast: 15, $1520
Beloka Pastoral: 21, $1450; 23, $1400
Ray & Max Pendergast: 10, EU, $1410
Heifers
K & J Pendergast: 15, EU, $1450
WJC Pendergast: 14, $1290
WA Pendgergast: 14, $1240
Ray and Max Pendergast: 12, EU, $1230
R & A Faithfull: 16, EU, $1200; 24, $1160
BK Sievers: 15, $1200; 23, $1100
L & S Pendergast: 18, $1200; 26, $1100
P& S Soutter: 20, $1150
Beloka Pastoral: 18, $1140
B & J Carroll: 12, $1140
A & S Pendergast: 11, $1130
D Tomkins: 8, $1100
-Kim Woods