Nearly 3000 weaners hit the Yea market, as vendors sell early

Nearly 3000 weaner cattle were sold at Yea where buyers from northern Victoria and NSW snapped cattle up.

Heavy rain in the north pushed buyers to Yea on Friday where 2938 cattle were yarded at the Nutrien autumn drop weaner sale.

Buyers from northern Victoria and Gippsland as well as the NSW towns of Forbes, Dubbo, Tamworth and Armidale snapped up cattle.

There were 1961 weaner steers sold which topped at $1500 and averaged $1156, while 977 heifers sold to $1100 and averaged $851.

Tim and Leal Squire-Wilson, Clarkfield, sold 84 mixed sex Angus weaners at Yea. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Tim and Leal Squire-Wilson were one of several vendors selling weaner cattle earlier than normal.

“It’s a bit subdued [at home]. We normally sell in December and January, but we just didn’t get the bulk of feed in spring,” Ms Squire-Wilson said.

They sold 84 mixed-sex Angus, including 27 steers, 278kg, Te Mania and Willoughby blood, 8-9 months, for 406c/kg and said they were “very cheerful” with the result.

Meanwhile, it was Ethan Tanner’s usual selling time, with B&S Tanner, of Mansfield, selling 200-head of mostly Angus steers, including 15, 276kg, for $1150 or 416c/kg, 30, 247kg, for $1070 or 433c/kg, and 27, 218kg, for $940 or 431c/kg.

“We’re pretty happy with the top steers, they made $1380 and were about 316 kilos,” he said.

Ethan, Masey, Linc, Jacoba, Shay and Spencer Tanner, and Annabelle Glasser. B & S Tanner sold 200-head of Angus at the Yea November sale. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Polloch farm manager Marcus O’Dwyer, of Nagambie, had 66 mixed-sex Angus weaners on behalf of Rob and Ruth Thomas, and said they normally sold at this time.

“Our spring sale calves are 30kg heavier than our autumn sale calves at the same age. These ones were born onto a foot of grass,” he said.

“Next year, all the indicators are for a good season, so that’s what we need to bank on.”

Pollach farm manager Marcus O'Dwyer, Nagambie, sold 66 mixed-sex weaner cattle at Yea. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Nutrien Yea branch manager Tyson Bush said they had an influx of weaner cattle ahead of December due to dry conditions.

“They presented very well. From one end of the yards to the last three lanes, there wasn’t a lot of weight variance in them,” he said.

“A week is a long time in this job. We have a weaner sale in January, but we’ve always had the earlier sale to give people the opportunity not to put all eggs in one basket,” he said.

Yea Nutrien branch manager Tyson Bush. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Mr Bush said clients who sold earlier than normal reported dry conditions, cattle readiness, and concerns about pink eye ahead of summer.

He said to the west, the furthest buyers were from the Kerang region.

“Our vendors use the same-quality bulls with same-quality cows so they know what they’ll get at the end result. In harder years if you cut back on animal husbandries, it’s quite noticeable in tougher times. None of these cattle were showing that,” he said.