Calf sales: High prices tempt on-farm sell off

Nick Lillie made the call last year to sell his calves before the feature sales in January, but he’s holding off this time around.

Traditional 2022: Nick Lillie is a normal vendor in the calf sales this year. Picture: Zoe Phillips

It was tempting for Mortlake producer Nick Lillie to cash in early on record prices by selling his 400 weaner calves prior to the annual New Year calf sales but he has held off for good reason.

“We had so much grass we needed something to eat it,” Nick said.

“The talk is pretty positive about the sales … there is a lot of competition around and with NSW and Queensland getting some rain, who knows where it (prices) will go.”

Nick and Joanne Lillie used to operate Wolbull Poll Herefords before it was dispersed. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Nick sold his draft early in October last year but with the extraordinarily good season this year he has opted to add more weight to the calves and see if it pays dividends at the traditional sales.

The draft includes Angus, Hereford and black baldy autumn-drop steers and heifers that are expected to be about 50kg heavier than last year. Average weights for the 10-month-old calves are estimated between 350kg and 400kg liveweight.

Traditionally the Lillie family has sold to feedlots but has been pleased with sale results from Mortlake for the past five years.

“I like sale day and I love going along, it’s a buzz,” Nick said.

“We had so much grass we needed something to eat it”. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“When you consistently sell at a place you get a reputation because people know your cattle and know what you do…and that’s why we’ve stuck with Mortlake…the sales are going well there and the agents are doing all the right things by us.”

Nick runs just over 1000 breeders with spring and autumn joining and the aim of turning off 1000 head a year. Numbers are his key to viability.

“I remember going to market and getting $600 a head for weaners or less,” he said.

“I said if we have 1000 weaners at $600 then we can live off that fairly well and comfortably run the farm. We’ve got there now…and they are worth a lot more.”

Nick used to operate his own stud, Wolbull Poll Herefords, prior to it being dispersed and he still breeds his own Angus and Poll Hereford bulls for use in his herd. He also uses bulls from Kaluda Poll Herefords, Banquet Angus and Weatherly Angus studs.

He prefers moderate sized bulls.

Picture: Zoe Phillips

“I like figures but I’m more phenotype,” Nick said.

“We aren’t in too much of a rush to have the newest flashiest things so we will test a bull out and see how he goes. If we like the progeny then we use the progeny and that bull will get a much better go in the pseudo stud herd.”

Optimism for the sales has never been higher but Nick was hesitant to hazard a guess at how high prices might go for fear of putting a price ceiling on it.

“You don’t want the house of cards to tumble because the guys buying can’t make any money or the meatworks can’t make any money,” he said.

“As long as everyone can make money along the supply chain, that’s our main concern.”