Casterton weaner sale: Heifer prices end historic selling week on new high
Buyers have pushed weaner calf returns 100c/kg higher than even the selling agents dared to hope at Casterton. See the prices here.
HEIFER prices stepped it up a gear today at Casterton as buyers pushed weaner calf returns 100c/kg higher than even the selling agents dared to hope, ending what has been a historic selling week on a new high.
Often prices wane by the end of a big week of January calf sales in Victoria, but not this year.
This season even the locals were outcompeting eager would-be buyers who had travelled down from the drought-revived north in search of fresh breeding livestock. But many of the NSW hopefuls walked out empty-handed.
There were 1940 heifers sold at Casterton today with light heifers getting up to 578c/kg and heavier heifers sold up to 530-540c/kg and into the $1900/head-plus territory.
Across the yarding the heifers averaged returns of 526c/kg, and an average weight of 285kg, returning a dollar per head price of $1503.
There was little difference between the Angus and Hereford returns.
For some breeders, their heifer prices topped their extraordinary returns for steers, delivered earlier this week.
“This sale was just fantastic,” Nutrien Casterton agent Greg Bright said.
“It’s the northern interest, the great local season and the lack of numbers that’s made this happen, and the good numbers of cattle we had here.
“People have finally worked out there is going to be a big shortage of cattle, everywhere, this is a strong as anything I’ve ever seen or heard of; it is at least a 100c/kg a head above what I thought heifers would make coming into it.”
Dominate bidders included Andrew Whan, Miller Whan and John, Mount Gambier buying for Ogilvies and Lindsay; as well as Casterton-region locals buying extra heifers to boost their breeding numbers and commission buyer Des Grant, Gunnedah, NSW, as well as James Brown, Ray White Albury, NSW and Donny Bowman, Elders Korumburra.
One extraordinary sale saw one leading breeder, Paul O’Brien, Sunnyside, Casterton sell Angus heifers around 307kg for 515c/kg or $1581 and buy a pen of similar-quality but heavier calves, closer to 343kg and joinable weights, at $1831 or 534c/kg from his neighbour, Baroona.
Doug Robertson, Nangana, Grassdale, sold his leading weaner heifers at Casterton for the first time.
Twenty four February-March drop Banquet blood Nangana heifers, 341kg sold at 532c/kg or $1814 bought by Casterton restockers. This was around $700 more than last season’s returns.
“It is just incredible,” Mr Robertson said.
Glenn Kerr, West Ridge, sold 16 Angus heifers, EU accredited, Boonaroo and Nampara blood, 368kg for 526c/kg or $1940. “The prices were a bit better than our steers,” Mr Kerr said.
Gippsland buyer Wade Hodgson, Hodgson Ag, Flynn said he bought about 30 Angus heifers to breed from and while he’d like more, the rates were too dear so “we will change to fattening cattle”.
“I’m not that confident,” Mr Hodgson laughed when asked why he was prepared to pay such high rates. “But we need to keep moving them over.”
JM Carlin sold 12 Herefords, 355kg, Eu accredited, Taronga blood, for 532c/kg or $1888.
Dale and son Alex Sullivan, Shallum sold Hereford heifers, 331kg for 490c/kg or $1612, bought by Injemira, Holbrook, NSW.
“It is phenomenal, we knew it would be good, but we didn’t see this coming,” he said.
Lighter Shallum calves fetched 535c/kg.
“This will go into fencing, change over a new ute, a lot of money will go back into the local community and suppliers.”
Jeoff Hortle and daughter Carmen Gorman sold 18 Herefords, 291kg for 523c/kg or $1530 to Yarram Park. This was almost as good as their steers which averaged $1541. Lighter lines from the Hortle’s Woranga property made 544c/kg.
Rosebank, meanwhile sold Hereford heifers, 250kg for 550c/kg.
DW & EA Munro had 12 Angus, 245kg make 572c/kg or $1375 and Faroe’s 27 Angus heifers, 238kg, were knocked down at 578c/kg or $1375.
Glenn and Kylie Davis, Sutherland Hills, Dergholm sold 12 Hereford heifers, Yarram Park blood, weighing 266kg for 522c/kg or $1388. Their steers earlier in the week made around $1600.
Two years ago they were paid 263c/kg for heifers in January at Casterton. “It is unbelievable today,” he said.
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