Hamilton weaner sale shows off quality Hereford, Limousin and Charolais sired calves
It was another dazzling display of prices made at the third day of the Hamilton weaner sales, with high-quality Hereford, Limousin and Charolais-sired calves on offer.
THERE was more ‘wow’ factor at Hamilton yesterday as some of the Western District’s best Hereford and Limousin and Charolais sired calves were sold.
The overall sale price in liveweight terms ticked up again to average 502.6c/kg – and remarkably that money included the first runs of European-bred heifers to be sold at the centre this week.
Suggesting there will be no respite for buyers, heifers made between 474c/kg to 536c/kg as overwhelming often pushed rates within sight of steer values.
The opening pen of 30 Hereford steers bred by Leon Wheeler and family topped the market at $2039 after selling for 481c/kg on a weight of 424kg.
While only a handful of pens cracked $2000, most vendors were pocketing from $1800 to $1950 for their lead runs, with the second and third drafts not far behind as prices rallied for lighter weight stock.
“Wow – that’s about all I can come up with,’’ said breeder Geoff McErvale, Willamay, after his 13 Charolais steers that weighed 391kg sold for 490c/kg or $1915 per head.
“It’s rained and the north hasn’t had it for years and that is the difference.’’
The overall average in dollar terms for the sale was $1685.66, which includes the few hundred heifers sold at the end of the steer run.
The sale continued to track at 480c/kg to 500c/kg for the heaviest steers, and from 520c/kg to a peak of 580c/kg on lighterweights.
Northern restockers dominated, with the major processing/feedlot buyers just watching on.
Herefords were the feature, with repeat buyer Paul Mason from Wellington in NSW once again claiming the lead runs from breeders such as the Mason family, Orana, and the Pepper Partnership trading as Lochredal.
Results for some of the big lines included:
Orana: 59 Herefords at 340kg for 508c/kg;
RS Rundell: 50 Herefords at 335kg for 506c/kg;
Leon Wheeler: 67 Herefords at 382kg for 486c/kg; and
Lochredal: 53 Herefords at 354kg for 496c/kg.
All these calves were weaned and EU accredited, and the pattern of the hottest demand being evident for EU eligible steers continued.
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