Weaner calf sales: Wodonga Naracoorte and Wangaratta results set price guide
See our expert analysis from the biggest recent weaner sales – Wodonga, Naracoorte, and Wangaratta – where prices soared.
Wodonga has capped off a third day of weaner sales almost as strong as it started, with weaner rates tipping over 800c/kg for light cattle.
Today’s offering of 3700 weaners did not attract as much northern competition given there were no lines of Angus, but locals stepped in to fill the void and keep rates close to those achieved the previous two days.
While the final figures are yet to be crunched, it’s likely the three days of sales will gross more than $30 million for district vendors who have reaped the rewards of insatiable demand for cattle.
Peter Ruaro Livestock principal Peter Ruaro said prices may not have had the heat of the prior two days of sales but were still “really good”.
“We had great lines of Euro cattle which sold better than expected, and while we did not have the northern blokes bidding, the rates per kilogram were still right up there,” Mr Ruaro said.
The best weaner price was $2570 paid for a pen of 418 kilogram-black baldies sold by the Hocking family Mullengadra. The pen of 23, at 418kg, returned 615c/kg, with the lighter pen, 333kg, made $2230 or 670c/kg.
The best of the Herefords sold to $2560 for the top pen of David Trethowan’s steers from Cookardinia. The pen of 12, 440kg, returned 582c/kg, while the balance of the draft weighing 316-385kg sold from $2200 to $2420, or the equivalent of 629-696c/kg. They also won the best pen of Hereford steers in the offering.
Most Hereford steers sold from 630-680c/kg for cattle 300-380 kilograms and topped at 748c/kg for the lightest steers from Arworthal, weighing 270 kilograms and grossing $2020.
Euro-cross steers $2520 for a pen of 21 Charolais-Angus (443kg, 569c/kg) for vendors J and E Renkin, while plenty of Euro and Euro-cross steers returned 575-605c/kg.
Brewag Pty Ltd achieved some of the best results on the day with their Black Simmental-cross cattle, after a late decision to sell after seeing how high the prices were at Wangaratta earlier this week.
David Brewer from the Tallangatta Valley said they decided to sell their Black Simmental-cross cattle two months early and were pleased the decision paid off.
The tops of their Simmental-Red Angus-Hereford steers made $2350 (367kg, 640c/kg) while the second pen of 313kg, same breeding, made $2240 (716c/kg).
But it was their lightest pen that kicked the biggest goal, with the 282-kilogram Black Simmental-Angus steers making $2210 or 784c/kg to be one of the highest cents a kilogram rates at the sale.
It was only beaten by a pen of light Herefords, 216kg, which made $1800 or 833c/kg.
Heifer prices did not see the spark shown yesterday given the lack of Queensland competition, but rates settled from 580-680c/kg.
And it was the last pen of the day which made one of the best rates which showed the depth of competition, with Trevor Ralston selling a fresh pen of 260-kilogram Herefords selling for $1770 or 681c/kg.
The best weaner heifer price honours went to the same vendors as the steers, with the Hockings selling 27 black baldies, 374 kilograms, for $2480 (663c/kg) to a restocker.
Buyers included more locals today, but several pens were booked to Tamworth. Bowyer Livermore from Bathurst bought about 400 Euro-cross steers and heifers.
– FIONA MYERS
January 6, 6pm: Huge yarding at Naracoorte
An inflated yarding of about 6500 steers sold to relentless demand at Naracoorte in South Australia’s South East today.
Vendors quoted the prices as 25 per cent higher than last year’s then record-breaking rates. On a liveweight basis prices were up about 100c/kg last year. In dollars-per-head they were about $500-$700 dearer.
While thrilled with the returns, many vendors commented that they hoped the buyers could “make a buck out of them so they come back again another year”.
The yarding, initially advertised at 4500, was boosted by the last-minute inclusion of an extra 2000 steers as vendors sought to capitalise on the extraordinary prices seen at Naracoorte in December with the trend continuing into early sales in Victoria’s North East.
Prices for heavy weaner steers consistently fetched $2300-$2500 a head, throughout the enormous yarding – the largest of its type seen at the selling centre.
In dollar-per-head prices, some of the highlights include KJ &HA McGrath’s 22 Angus-Simmentals, 413kg, which returned $2781 (588c/kg).
While, in cents-per-kilogram terms, prices soared as high as 935c/kg, paid for 29 little black baldy steers, sold by Jakabul, weighing just 149kg and calculating out to $1393 a head.
Most heavy Angus and Angus-cross steers averaged $2300-$2500 and Simmental-Hereford cross types were generally $100 a head behind these rates.
An indicative price of what was seen throughout the multiple agent yarding — some of whom selling in cents-per-kilogram and others in dollars-per-head — were the leading Angus steer lines, such as $2529 or 634c/kg paid for 399kg Angus steers offered by JD&JM Skeer.
Despite the strong prices, the atmosphere at the saleyards was somewhat subdued with the general public asked to stay away due to Covid concerns as local case numbers rapidly grow.
Buyer strength came from as far afield as Queensland, Gunnedah in northern NSW as well as considerable Victorian bidding.
Commission buyers Andrew Lowe and Duncan Brown were consistent throughout. Feedlots were also strong with Thomas Foods International and Hopkins River Beef bidding up.
Numerous Victorian breeders sell at Naracoorte, including Graham, Shirley, Rick and Nancy Foster, Haven Park, Casterton who sold 60 steers, for “fantastic prices”.
Rick Foster said the rates were “a bit above expectations, although we were open minded about it”.
“Normally we don’t sell weaners, we run them on as feeders or bullocks, but we decided to sell now.”
A pen of Haven Park Angus-Simmental steers fetched $2464 or 668c/kg.
Fellow Victorian from Red Cap Creek, Michael Moran, Lawford Park, saw 23 of his family’s Dollar Angus-blood steers, 384kg, fetch a bid of 650c/kg or $2496.
“It is an unbelievable price; it just keeps getting stronger,” Mr Moran said.
“We just hope it keeps up.”
Naracoorte volume vendors LS Johnson & Sons recorded an average price of close to $2400 today, which was well up on their January 2021 average return of $1806 and about $100/head higher on December 2021 returns.
Graham Johnson said he “didn’t have a clue” whether the exceptional rates would continue.
For his 1600-cow enterprise, the returns meant investments water infrastructure, equipment, sheds on yards and vehicles.
“We just keep doing what are doing, and take the good with the bad, and right now it is good,” Mr Johnson said.
“Last year there were more southern buyers, but this year it seems to be more NSW, Queensland and eastern Victoria.”
Lachie Seears of Boonderoo Pastoral Company at Lucindale sold 250 steers, mainly Angus and some Angus-Speckle Park lines.
“We’re really happy with the prices, they are holding up, which is what we expected off the back of that rain in NSW,” Mr Seears said.
“We are definitely up on last year which everyone is, which is fantastic, which shows the confidence in the cattle industry.
“We’d be up probably 25 per cent on price on last year.”
Then, they sold 226 steers for an average of 490c/kg.
Boonderoo sold some Speckle Park-Angus steers which were 15kg heavier than their purebred Angus brothers, which he attributed mainly due to the hybrid vigour. A pen of 20 of these crossbreds, 382kg, EU eligible, fetched a bit 625c/kg, or $2387.
Around 4000 heifers are scheduled to be sold at Naracoorte tomorrow from 8am.
– KATE DOWLER
January 6, 1pm: Light calves top 1000c/kg at Wodonga
The weaner juggernaut continued at Wodonga today as light cattle broke through 1000c/kg for light Herefords.
While steer prices were judged equal to slightly cheaper than yesterday’s market, it was a different story for heifers which were quoted as dearer, and the lightest steers which hit extreme rates.
The headline makers at 1049c/kg were the lightest in the offering from Tarabah Pastoral Company at Morundah, NSW, with the pen of 47 weighing just 164kg making $1720.
The Tarabah draft of 530 weighed from 164kg to 275kg and made 767-1049c/kg, with 200 of the draft making more than 900c/kg.
It was just one of the stellar results in today’s sale, which saw northern competition extend as far as Queensland as buyers fought over the offering of 5800 cattle.
Angus steer weaners settled into a price range of $2400 to $2500 for many of the drafts regardless of weight, which saw price a kilogram rates jump around.
Most of the Angus weaners from 330-380kg returned 630-680c/kg, while those closer to 300kg consistently made more than 700c/kg and up to 818c/kg for a pen of 289kg steers which made $2365.
The top weaner price was paid for K and D Cohalan’s 20 Angus, 439kg, which made $2620 and returned 597c/kg.
For Peter Boyd from Myrtleford, rates of $2460 for 393kg Angus steers (626c/kg), $2400 for 338kg (710c/kg) and Angus heifer weaners making $2260 (340kg, 665c/kg) are more than acceptable.
“Yes, these are good prices, but our inputs are going up too as well like fertiliser,” Mr Boyd said.
“When you drive around, you see new fences and new yards and new tractors, so money made in cattle is being invested back into the industry.”
Hereford steers were cheaper than their Angus counterparts, but not by much on a cents a kilogram basis.
They sold from 630c to 690c/kg with the best price $2470 paid for 21 Herefords sold by Andrew Sleigh of Sleigh Pastoral at Jerilderie NSW, for a pen which was judged the best presented of any breed at today’s offering. The 390kg steers returned 633c/kg.
Queensland competition dominated the early and heavier runs of Angus heifer weaners, with buyers factoring in $70-$80 for cartage.
The top heifer weaner price was $2410 paid for 14 Angus which weighed 407kg, making 592c/kg for vendors A Wallace.
Most pens settled in a price range of 600c to 700c/kg, and better for the well-bred lines.
That included the McDonald family’s Macsway, which sold 34 Angus, 322kg, for $2300 (714c/kg) and Three Rivers Angus, whose top pen of 24 Angus weaners, 330kg, made $2250 (682c/kg) while the second lighter pen at 296kg made $2140 or 730c/kg.
The market included yearling heifers which sold to $2590, and it was the Queensland contingent who worked hard to secure those as well as heavier lines of weaner heifers.
Nutrien Roma agent Andrew Holt bought 249 Angus heifers, paying between $2200-$2370 to secure numbers.
Mr Holt said November rain had grown feed around Roma, and the heifers he bought would be joined almost straight away.
“We don’t get the chance up there to buy lines of Angus like this and some will be joined to Angus and some to Wagyu,” he said.
“I didn’t think these were bad buying, even with a $70 freight bill to add on to each one.”
Wodonga’s weaner fixture continues tomorrow.
– FIONA MYERS
January 6, 11.30am: Early sales top $2500 at Naracoorte
Prices for weaner steers have soared above $2500 at Naracoorte’s opening calf sale in South Australia this morning.
Today’s yarding was boosted by the inclusion of an extra 2000 steers as vendors sought to capitalise on the strong weaner rates paid in Victoria’s North East yesterday.
More than 9500 calves were will be offered during the two-day fixture, with heifers to go under the hammer tomorrow.
Today’s opening pens in the 6500-head steer offering didn’t disappoint, returning $2529 or 634c/kg for 399kg Angus steers offered by JD&JM Skeer.
Most heavy Angus and Angus-cross steers have so far averaged $2400-$2500.
The early results from Naracoorte follow a record-breaking sale last year when steers averaged $1743 or 488c/kg and heifers, $1578 or 474c/kg. These 2021 steers weighed an average of 357kg.
Despite the strong prices, the atmosphere at the saleyards is somewhat subdued with the general public asked to stay away due to Covid concerns.
– KATE DOWLER
January 6, 11am: Competition pushes prices above 1000c/kg at Wodonga
Hereford steers broke the 1000c/kg mark at Wodonga this morning as buyers show no sign of backing away from high prices.
Angus steer weaners consistently made $2400-$2500 if they were 330-380kg, or 630-680c/kg.
But it was a draft of about 500 Poll Herefords that stole the show from Tarabah Pastoral at Morundah.
The draft from the Coghlan family weighed 164-275kg and made from 767-1049c/kg with 200 of the draft making 900c/kg or more.
The dearest pen to date was the lightest of the draft, 164kg, which made $1720.
The sale of 5700 weaners is still underway.
– FIONA MYERS
January 5, 6pm: Record prices paid at Wangaratta
Big lines of beautifully presented Angus weaners, including the first calves from southern Australia to be independently audited for their carbon footprint, helped take prices to a new level at Wangaratta late yesterday.
Steers aged nine to 10 months sold to $2650 and heifers to $2490 with only limited numbers in the 3700-head yarding selling below $2000 each in a sale that many believed surpassed even the big money store markets held in December, such as Euroa.
“I didn’t think it could but it seems to have gone to another level,’’ said commission buyer Graeme Ward as he watched the bulk of the offering sell to northern based agencies and feedlots from NSW and Queensland.
Selling agents rated the sale as dearer than the opening weaner sale at Wodonga held earlier in the morning, and this was backed-up by feedback from several buyers who had managed to secure loads at that sale but were “rolled’’ at Wangaratta.
Kevin Corcoran, Corcoran Parker, said in his opinion heifer weaners at Wangaratta were up to $150 dearer than Wodonga, due in part to the quality, weight and bigger lines on offer to suit breeders.
“I think it has got dearer,’’ he said: “But it needs to be noted there are bigger lines of weaned calves here at Wangaratta that are an absolute credit to the vendors.’’
And the line that drew the most admiration was the Davilak Angus calves bred by Rod Manning and son Rodda and family of Mansfield.
An annual draft, the 660 European Union accredited steers had been yard weaned and trained onto feeders with their consistency for type, quality and weight drawing many favourable remarks. And for the first time ever carried a Livestock Carbon Declaration assessed by Integrity Ag & Environment, a Queensland based company specialising in the new field of carbon footprints.
The lead pen of 30 heavy Davilak steer weaners, with a displayed weight of 400kg, sold for $2615, working out to 653c/kg.
But then some volume buying of multiple pens as the steers got lighter helped carry the entire draft to an average of $2530 across a curfewed weight of 355kg, equalling 711c/kg liveweight.
More than 10 pens sold to repeat buyers Guy and Suz Lord of Branga Plains at Walcha in northern NSW at between $2500 and $2570 per head.
Specialist Victorian branded beef operation Hopkins River also purchased nearly 200 of the Davilak steers, prompted into the line by their carbon credit assessment. David Maconochie, Hopkins River, said the company would continue to assess the carbon footprint of their steers as they went through their feeding program.
“We did a lot of this carbon work several years ago and then it went quiet,’’ he said: “This draft gives us a good trial run to see how it calculates through as I think we will start to see things happening around carbon zero or neutral,’’ he said.
Some of the lighter Davilak steers made exceptionally money, including 24 head at 275kg that sold for $2380 or 865c/kg liveweight.
The other notable line in the yarding was the Glenlock Angus calves bred by Dennis Heywood and family of Everton. Another big line comprising more than 800 mixed sex, the steer portion also sold to $2615 for 405kg.
Prices on a liveweight basis then quickly rose for the Heywood calves, with 57 steers at 365kg making $2530 or 693c/kg, followed by 80 head at around 325kg which sold for $2460 to the Elders Killara feedlot operation. This sale worked out to 756c/kg.
But this was eclipsed by the final pen in the Heywood run, with 29 young steers at 212kg making $2000 to a Tamworth order at a cost of 943c/kg lwt.
Mr Heywood said it was a stunning result, following on from their best ever money early last year.
“Its been above my expectations,’’ he said: “I was hoping we would average $2200 and I’m pretty sure we are going to do a lot better than that. I just want the people buying them to make some money out of them so they can come back again.’’
There was a lot of new faces in the crowd, with several agencies from northern NSW and Queensland in attendance. Destinations to be called out included Walcha, Tamworth, Bathurst, Inverell, Narrabri and Toowomba.
Local north-east traders did manage to purchase some lots, but the majority of the yarding was destined for interstate areas where feed is flourishing after the El Nino summer rains.
Top price honours at $2690 went to Deepdale at Tallarook for some big framed Angus steers that weighed 414kg at 10-11months (650c/kg). A second run of 78 head weighing 368kg made $2520 or 684c/kg.
As a guide, heavy steers the lead pens of heavy steers started at about 650c and then quickly gathered pace to sit between 680c to 750c/kg for the general run. The few light pens in the yarding did balloon above 780c/kg.
Other notable results in the steer run included:
MERCIECA Pastoral, Mansfield: 37 Angus at 390kg, $2590 (664c/kg)
MBK&P McPherson: 67 Angus at 366kg, $2520 (688c)
YACCA Pastoral: 25 Angus at 332kg, $2430 (731c); and 35 at 287kg at $2280 (794c/kg)
PULITANO Pastoral, Merrijig: 42 Angus at 334kg, $2510 (751c/kg).
In the heifer section, vendor Deepdale also received the top price of $2490 for 27 heifers described as 10-11 months and 354kg, costing just over 700c and selling to a local producer for breeding.
Queensland agent Jeff Garland, GDL Toowomba, then paid $2370 for the Roche family’s 22 Angus heifers at 357kg (663c), and $2290 for Mercieca Pastoral’s 32 head at 321kg (713c/kg); all these calves destined to be joined to Angus or Wagyu bulls.
The feature run of the Glenlock Angus heifers from the Heywood family sold to $2350 for 39 head at 344kg, equalling 683c/kg. The next 81 head at around 320kg then made $2220 or 693c/kg lwt.
It meant heifer price rates were not far behind steers, meaning there was little price relief for buyers.
– JENNY KELLY
January 5, 2pm: Calves sell to $2880 at Wodonga
Cattle buyers went on a multimillion-dollar spending spree at Wodonga today with only a handful of steer weaners making less than $2000.
Northern competition was dominant with drafts of cattle booked to Toowoomba, Gunnedah and Tamworth, who bid against competition from South Australia and locals to secure numbers.
Prices peaked at $2880 for steer weaners but pushed up to 877c/kg for the lightest of the offering of 4500 cattle.
The top of the market was expected to be good, but the consistency of the prices shocked some.
Corcoran Parker director Cameron Hilton said the results were “unbelievable”.
“The steers are dearer than we thought, and we always expected the heifers to be dear because of restocker interest, but to be honest, few female cattle were going to producers,” Mr Hilton said.
“I say well done to the vendors and good luck to the buyers.”
The heaviest drafts of Angus steer weaners made $2400 or more, topping at $2880 for a pen of 13 weighing 441kg, nine to 10 months, which returned 653c/kg for vendors P and C Klippel.
One of the bigger drafts was sold by Quilter Nominees, Narrandera, which was EU-accredited, and showed clearly how cents a kilogram rates increased as weights decreased.
The top pen of 22 weighing 386kg made $2590 (671c/kg) but then the 347kg pen made $2470 (712c/kg); the 317kg pen made $2460 (776c/kg); the 314kg pen made $2460 (783c/kg) and the lightest pen, at 289kg, made $2310 (799c/kg).
It was a trend that continued through the sale, though many more drafts of cattle had weight this year thanks to the good season in the northeast, with Mr Hilton estimating calves weighed an extra 30kg compared to last year.
Most steers fell into the 330–380kg weight range, and made anywhere from 650-700c/kg, with light steers making above 700c/kg and anything under 300kg making close to or above 800c/kg.
The top cents a kilogram rate was 877c, paid for a pen of 18 Angus steers which weighed 219kg and returned $1920.
Vendor Michael McCormack from The Cascade Pastoral Company at Tallangatta Valley sold both pens of their EU-accredited steer weaners to Rangers Valley Feedlot, with their top pen of 28 weighing 378 kilograms making $2570 (680c/kg) while their second pen of 13 made $2450 (342kg, 743c/kg).
Mr McCormack said strong prime prices put a floor in the weaner market, making it easier for buyers to justify prices.
“We’ve had a marvellous season, our cattle are heavier, and the prices are excellent,” he said.
The heifer market was just as strong as expected, though fewer producers were putting cattle back into breeding herds that agents expected.
Heifer weaners consistently sold above $2000 and 600c/kg, topping at 796c/kg for a pen of 211kg weaners, which sold for $1680 for vendor Mt Ochertyre.
Other good results included 690c/kg for a pen of 42 Angus weaners, 300kg, which made $2070 for vendors Glen Falloch Angus, and 693c/kg for a pen of 316kg weaners which made $2190.
Another 5700 weaners will be offered at Wodonga tomorrow (Thursday) and 4500 on Friday.
– FIONA MYERS
January 5, 10am: Strong demand for opening weaner pens at Wodonga
Wodonga weaner calf sales started this morning in a stunning price result for producers.
Wodonga’s offering of 4500 weaners started this year’s price trends, with the first few pens achieving more than $2500 a head just now.
A huge crowd has converged on the centre at the first of four sales in northern Victoria over the next three days, where 16,000 calves will be offered.
The highest price so far has been $2880 paid for a pen of Angus calves which weighed 441kg and sold for the equivalent of 653c/kilogram.
The best c/kg rate so far was 783c/kg for lighter Angus steers which weighed 314kg.
– FIONA MYERS
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