Tasmanian whiteface cattle meet the market
Some of the Tasmania’s best central highlands whiteface cattle lured buyers into bucking recent cattle trends yesterday.
Tried and true whiteface genetics sourced from the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands of Tasmania made up to 495c/kg at Powranna on Thursday.
Elders hosted the second weaner and feature Hereford sale, and a total of 2320 cattle went under the hammer.
Greg Harris of Elders Launceston said the sale of 1650 steers and 670 heifers certainly met expectations and held up well with interstate buyers in attendance but not purchasing.
Three mainland buyers were at the Powranna Livestock Exchange but didn’t purchase any cattle due to strong competition from Tasmanian interests and local restockers.
Meat and Livestock Australia market reporter Richard Bailey said it was an excellent line-up of Hereford, Angus and black baldies.
The majority came from the South, Derwent Valley and Central Highlands.
Mr Bailey said the sale started with extensive runs of Hereford steer weaners, which sold to robust competition, while the second and third runs were similar to the sale at Powranna last week.
The heaviest steers weighing more than 330kg made $1240 to $2020, averaging 495c/kg.
Medium steers weighing 280 to 330kg made $1020 to $1600, equating to 420c/kg.
Lighter steers weighing 200 to 280kg commanded $900 to $1360 or 435c/kg.
The heifer sale was erratic, with the tops and some well-bred medium weights dearer, while the rest were similar to last week at Powranna.
Heavy heifers made $900 to $1740.
Medium heifers made $880 to $1100, equating to 330c/kg.
Light heifers returned $680 to $1300, 380c/kg, and very small heifers made $550 to $630 or 340c/kg.
Rockford of Bothwell sold a draft of 116 Hereford steers, comprising six lines, to average 312kg and made $1572.
Dorset Downs of Waterhouse sold 70 Angus steers across four lines, weighing an average of 375kg for $1801.
In the heifer section, Rockford of Bothwell sold 51 Herefords across three lines to average 297kg and returned $1584.
Cloverdale sold 38 Angus Hereford cross heifers weighing 279kg to return $1033.
Glen Dhu of Ouse sold 53 Hereford heifers across four lines averaging 267kg for $956.
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