Heifers 100c/kg dearer at Wodonga store sale

The stars hardly aligned for the Wodonga store cattle sale – no rain, tariff worries and light cattle – but prices were up to 100c/kg dearer. We break down the reasons behind it.

A 100c/kg lift in prices for heifers and steers nearing 500c/kg were highlights of the Wodonga store sale where prices defied the season.

A warm autumn has proved a double edged sword for North East cattle producers, with Thursday’s yarding swelled by numbers being sold early due to the tight season.

But the warm weather has kept cattle in fresh condition, with one producer saying it would have been a different story in terms of quality if it had been cold.

Calves as light at 150kg were yarded – and sold – as buyers acted despite the tough season locally and uncertainty in global trade conditions.

Michael Unthank, Brian Unthank Rodwells, Albury, with Joseph and Jason Singe from Henty, NSW, who sold composite steers to a top of $1395 (403kg, 356c/kg liveweight) at Wodonga and said the market was holding up better than expected.

Corcoran Parker director Justin Keane said the early sale of some drafts meant quality was good, despite lighter weights.

“We saw some of the lighter steers get up over 480c/kg liveweight and the sale has gone really well,” Mr Keane said.

“What this says about prices is, look out when it rains.”

The yarding was dominated by steers, predominantly Angus, with few heavier weights and many falling into the 250-330kg range and some pens even under 200kg.

Despite the light weight of some of the offering, many observers commented on the fresh condition of the cattle as well as how much it would have cost to get them to this stage in terms of hand feeding.

Corcoran Parker Mansfield agent Daniel Craddock sold clients’ cattle at the sale, including a draft from Mainton at Merton, which weighed 227-254 kilograms, and made $1105-$1170 or 461-487c/kg liveweight.

Corcoran Parker Mansfield agent Daniel Craddock had clients selling cattle earlier than normal at the Wodonga store cattle sale.

Mr Craddock said the vendors had been feeding hay and the good condition of the draft of steers, despite their lighter weights, was the result.

“These clients have put heaps of feed into their cattle, and it shows that it can be done, in terms of feeding to get them looking right,” Mr Craddock said.

Most of the lines of Angus steers made above 400c/kg liveweight, even at the heavier end around 400kg, with Narom Nominees selling 25 Angus, 17 months and 410kg, making $1750 or 427c/kg liveweight. At the other end of the scales, 202kg liveweight Angus steers made 423c/kg.

Nigel Todd from Tarrawingee and Doug Reid from Albury at the Wodonga cattle sale, where Mr Todd was a buyer and bought 49 Angus steer ranging in weight from 200-236kg, paying up to 443c/kg liveweight.

Some of the prices for Hereford steers included $1185 paid for a pen of 16 weighing 333kg that returned 356c/kg liveweight, while at the lighter end, D Cameron sold 15 Herefords, 258kg, for $975 or 378c/kg liveweight.

Heifer prices were a highlight of the sale, with one agent judging them to be 100c/kg dearer than the last sale.

The highest heifer price was $1290 paid for a pen of six Angus, 391kg, which returned 330c/kg liveweight.

Ingrid and Norman Sharp from Cudgewa were at the Wodonga cattle sale to check prices, before they potentially offload before winter, in a year they say is worse than last year in terms of season.

It was one of a handful of sales that broke the $1200 mark for heifers, including $1230 paid for 20 Angus heifers sold by Spring Farm, which weighed 350kg and returned 351c/kg liveweight. This was equalled by Cheshire and Spencer, who sold seven Angus, 364kg, for $1230 or 338c/kg liveweight.

Almost all heifers made more than 300c/kg liveweight, and many over 330c/kg with one pen, a draft of 32 sold by Webb Pastoral, and weighing 308kg, selling for $1185 or 385c/kg liveweight.

A light pen offered by C and N Briggs made $780 for the calves, which weighed 196kg liveweight, so returned 398c/kg liveweight.