High country calf sales underway for 2021

Strong prices for both steers and heifers have been attained on the first day of Victoria’s famed high country calf sales.

The first of Victoria’s famed high country calf sales underway at Hinnomunjie today. Picture: Zoe Phillips

UPDATE: MORE than 4000 cattle have been yarded and sold across three sales on the first day of the 81st high country calf sales.

Local producers, hit hard by several seasons of drought and the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20, were today buoyed by the strength of prices for both Angus and Hereford steers and heifers.

At Omeo, prices for Angus steers ranged from $1770 to beyond $2000, while the heifer portion of the sale saw results from $1460 to $1780.

The Benambra Elders Hereford sale prices for the 1100 cattle yarded ranged from $1340 to $2110 for steers.

Hereford heifers made returns from $1530 to $1750.

Dianne Anderson, who sold 150 Angus cattle at Omeo and 78 Herefords at Benambra, said the results were “fantastic”.

“Last year, we didn’t sell at Omeo, we kept our Herefords at Omeo. I think we got about $1500 for our top lots last year, which was pretty good money. We’ll take that any time,” she said.

Prices for Herefords and Angus cattle were comparable, with the top pen of Anderson Angus steers making $1900 at Omeo while the top-priced pen of Herefords made $1950.

“I’d say the Herefords would be heavier than the Angus. But overall, it was an incredible result. Let’s hope it continues, we’ve had plenty of bad times,” Ms Anderson said.

Gippsland buyers were active across all three sales, as were commission buyers Graham Ward and Andrew Lowe. Local agents also purchased cattle for producers at Bairnsdale, Benambra and Omeo.

IMPRESSIVE START AT HINNOMUNJIE

A SMALL yarding of 860 steers and heifers has sold to impressive peaks at the first of Victoria’s famed high country calf sales underway at Hinnomunjie.

South Gippsland agents dominated the opening runs of cattle with Elders Korumburra agent Don Bowman, in particular, active on the lines of heavy weaner steers.

One of the top-priced pens in early sales was G&S Crisp’s 18 Hereford steers bought by the SEJ Leongatha agency for a bid of $1780.

All the calves are sold unweighed at the high country sales.

Buyers local to Benambra and Corryong, as well as commission buyer Andrew Lowe, purchased steers for prices of $1500-$1770.

Many people lining the rails commented that the market was “too dear” and that “there are no bargains here today”.

Sharp Fullgrabe Livestock auctioneer Brent Coster said it was a “strong sale right throughout with not too many holes”.

Auctioneer Brett Coster selling at Hinnomunjie today. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“Gippsland buyers have been really strong; for the last few months’ they’ve been the base for all our recent store sales,” he said.

Mr Coster added that buying agents from NSW regions — including Wagga Wagga, Albury and as far afield as Tamworth — also stepped up to bid on the high country calves today.

While the yarding was fewer than advertised, Mr Coster said prices were “extra strong”.

A small portion of heifers offered made returns comparable to the steers with returns ranging from $1490 and right up to $1670.

One quality pen of heifers was 14 offered by BS Dyer and they were knocked down at $1670.

Lighter weight heifers fetched prices from $1520 to $1640.

At the same time last year, the top-priced pen of Hereford steers returned $1650 or 381c/kg, while prices for heifers made returns between $1430, or 315c/kg, and $1390 or 321c/kg.

Up to 3000 cattle are set to be yarded at Omeo today and 1500 Hereford calves at Benambra today, then 800 cattle at Ensay, and another 1500 at the Omeo Hereford sale, tomorrow.