Weaner calf sales: photo gallery with all the action

The focus of Australia’s beef industry is on the summer weaner calf sales. See all the colour and excitement amid record prices.

Elders Albury livestock manager Brett Shea at the Wodonga sale on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Southeast Australia’s famed weaner calf sales have kicked off with record prices across the board.

Experts say confidence in the beef industry, a stunning season across much of eastern Australia and predictions for more rain at the end of this week point to another astonishing weaner selling run.

More than 75,000 cattle are anticipated to be offered at about 40 sales over the next two months during the annual sell-off.

SEE ALL THE ACTION, AS CAPTURED BY THE WEEKLY TIMES

A big crowd gathered at the Wodonga calf market on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Nine-year-old Sam Boyd from Myrtleford was among the vendors at the Wodonga calf sale on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Herefords Australia vice chairman Marc Greening with the best-presented pen at Wodonga on January 6, offered by David Sleigh. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Anna and Michael Coughlan catch up with Matt Tinkler from Elders at the Wodonga sale on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Record weaner prices were all the talk at Wodonga on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Karen and Stewart Paton from Corryong keep a close eye on prices at Wodonga on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Buyers, including Peter Steer, line the rails at Wodonga on January 6.

Elders Albury livestock manager Brett Shea at Wodonga on January 6. Picture: Zoe Phillips.

Weaner calf sales at Naracoorte, South Australia, on January 6. Strong prices have encouraged more vendors to attend. Picture: Kate Dowler

Action from the Wodonga weaner calf sales on January 6, where prices for Hereford steers broke the 1000c/kg mark. Picture: Fiona Myers

Lachie Seears, with his Speckle Park-cross steers, was a major vendor at the Naracoorte calf sale on January 6. Picture: Kate Dowler

The Corcoran Parker selling team calls for bids at Wangaratta on January 5. Picture: Jenny Kelly

The Davilak steers took up two entire laneways of the Wangaratta yards on January 5. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Wayne Houston, Mountain Bay at Mansfield, was one of the few local buyers at the Wangaratta calf sale on January 5. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Paul Spinks, Yacca Pastoral at Tatong, sold 126 Angus calves to $2430 for 332kg steers, at Wangaratta on January 5. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Vendor Dennis Heywood at the Wangaratta calf sale on January 5. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Rain poured down at the Wangaratta weaner sale on January 5, as shown by the water pouring off the roof. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Rodda Manning, Davilak Pastoral Co at Mansfield, with their line of carbon assessed Angus steers at Wangaratta calf sale on January 5. Picture: Jenny Kelly

Auctioneers call for bids on weaner cattle on the opening day of the new year calf sales at Wodonga on January 5. Picture: Fiona Myers

Brett, Mark, Shaun, Dale and Kristy Quilter from Narrandera, NSW, were selling 121 Angus steers and 21 heifers on the opening day of sales at Wodonga on January 5. Picture: Fiona Myers

Lang Peterkin from Tallangatta kept a close eye on prices at Wodonga’s opening sale on January 5. Picture: Fiona Myers

Guy and Suz Lord travelled from Walcha in northern NSW to Wodonga for the opening day of sales on January 5. Picture: Fiona Myers

Ruth and Michael McCormack from the Tallangatta Valley sold weaners at the first Wodonga calf market on January 5. Picture: Fiona Myers

Vendors Nat and Mark Larkin and their son Cameron, 2, from Kergunyah, sold Angus steers at Wodonga on January 5 and said they are “enjoying the market while it lasts”. Picture: Fiona Myers

Andrew Holt from Nutrien Roma bought 249 Angus heifers for $2200-$2370 at Wodonga on Thursday.

Kirby Nankervis, Kade Small and Oscar, 5 months, who was prepared for the noise of unweaned calves at Wodonga. 7 January. Picture: Fiona Myers

AuctionsPlus led the bidding on this big pen of 117 Angus steers from Athlone South, but they sold to Elders agent Phil Gledhil at $2574 or 660c/kg for 369kg at Hamilton.

Doug Robertson, Nangana, with his champion pen of steers which weighed 415kg and sold for 629c/kg or $2598 at Hamilton's weaner sale on Tuesday.

Hereford breeder John Craig, Inverell, with the lead of his 250 calves which sold to $2477 at Hamilton weaner sales.

Elders agent Phil Gledhil, Holbrook entered the weaner market at Hamilton on Tuesday, pictured with client Will Cottrell.

Cam and Carol Emerson, Alva Downs at Coleraine, were back in the market selling their line of Simmental steers at Hamilton on Wednesday (day thrree) after selling the cattle privately in recent seasons. The 142 steers sold from 600c/kg to 642c/kg, the heaviest working out at $2508.