Prices jump at 2020 mountain calf sales

Prices on a per-head basis have been much stronger than last year at the first of Victoria’s famed high country calf sales, with recent trials and tribulations keeping a lid on numbers.

Action from the first mountain calf sale of 2020 at Hinnomunjie saleyards. Picture: Dannika Bonser

STEER prices were up about $600 and heifers about $400 compared to last year at Victoria’s famed high country calf sales, which started today.

Bushfire, three years of drought, and retention of heifers for breeding all played into the number of cattle yarded at this week’s calf sales in Benambra and Omeo.

There were 1000 cattle yarded today at the first sale at Hinnomunjie — a reduction on original numbers due to producers selling early due to bushfire.

The top-priced pen of Hereford steers at the Hinnomunjie sale today returned vendor Donald Betts from Benambra $1650 or 381c/kg, while prices for heifers in on steers with opening pens returning between $1430, or 315c/kg, and $1390 or 321c/kg.

Bidding was strong for lines of Hereford steers with representation from Gippsland including Warragul, Leongatha and Pakenham, while there was northern NSW buyers represented, with Elders Tamworth snapping up pens of lighter steers for under $1000.

Commission buyer Andrew Lowe from Wagga Wagga, NSW, was active on mid-weight steers, paying from $1270 to $1330 and Graeme Ward purchased several pens of heifers.

A number of pens on offer yesterday were from burnt out properties.

Last year, a total of 7064 cattle were yarded across the week of sales, averaging $694.

The sale at Omeo last year opened with 3162 Angus and black baldy steers selling to a top of $1010 and heifers at $990.

Sharp Fullgrabe livestock auctioneer Nick O’Callaghan said the cattle were presented better than anticipated and they sold exceptionally well.

Mr O’Callaghan said there was strong competition on pens, when normally only one or two bidders were active on pens, this year six to eight bidders were active per pen, demonstrating the strength of the sale.

Elders Bairnsdale livestock agent Aaron McCole said some producers were unable to yard stock due to lack of fencing from being burnt out over the summer and had pulled out from the sales.

“There’s not a lot of heifers this year, not as many as usual.”

Mr McCole said due to three successive years of drought and the added sting of recent bushfires had reduced the number of cattle across the East Gippsland region to about 60 per cent.

“The main reason yarded numbers are down is the district is down on numbers.”

Between 2200 to 2400 cattle are to be yarded at the Omeo sale, 1500 at Hinnomunjie tomorrow, and another 1500 at the Omeo Hereford sale tomorrow.