Young heifer prices rise $100 at Wodonga

Restockers were in pursuits of small beef heifers ahead of what could be even higher prices this spring. See the full report.

John Ried, Tallangatta Valley paid $1030 for young heifers to grow out and potentially join as he anticipates a market rally for female breeding cattle at Wodonga.

Small beef heifers averaged $100 dearer at Wodonga on Thursday as buyers start the count down to spring and the impact the big sell down of female cattle could have on the market.

The average price for young heifers in the 200-280kg weight range was $879 or 357c/kg liveweight, for a considerable improvement on the result of $766 or 317c/kg just a fortnight go, according to saleyard data from the NVLX.

Steer prices in the 1563 cattle yarding were firm to modestly dearer, noting they had shown a decent lift last month on the back of feedlot demand, while heifers had generally been lagging in value.

Overall the sale showed plenty of positives, even though it didn’t quite translate into big price movements across all categories.

“There was a lot of positives there – we had major commission buyers and feedlots even though it was a small and wintery yarding,” David Weidner from Brian Unthank Rodwell said.

“The better lines of steers were solid at 460c/kg plus while the heifers sold particularly well. The way I see it is cattle numbers are going to run out and while it is raining there is still no feed but down the track in three or four months look out this cattle market could do anything,” he said.

Similar sentiment was expressed by Tallangatta Valley farmer John Ried who decided to step into the market and buy 24 young black baldy heifers to grow out and potentially join. The heifers weighed 251kg and cost $1030 or 410c/kg.

“There has been a big sell-off of cows and this female job has to do heaps (improve in price),” Mr Ried said. “It is still as cold as blazes in our country but we are 25 per cent down on the cattle numbers we would usually have at this time of year.”

“I’ve been at the last three or four store sales here at Wodonga and while prices have appreciated a bit they are not a lot dearer here today overall.”

There was 1563 cattle yarded and in a repeat of a fortnight ago most of the offering was young cattle weighing less than 300kg, many of them showing frame size but carrying minimal condition.

Neville Moss, Glendara Angus at Tallygaroopna, sold 50 Angus steers at $1170 on a weight of 223kg after a very tough season, giving him a rate of 523c/kg which he was very happy with at Wodonga.

Any steers with weight and maturity had a quick knock by JBS buyer Neil Flannigan who went with agents asking prices on the lead pens. This included the feature run of yearling steers from the Headon family of Walwa, who sold 28 Angus at 3621kg for $1680 (465c/kg); 28 at 313kg for $1440 (460c/kg); while the 24 lighter calves at 280kg sold for $1300 (464c/kg) to backgrounder and feeder AJF of Coonamble.

JBS paid to $1850 for seven Angus yearling steers that weighed 407kg, equating to 454c/kg.

Saleyard data shows there was less than 100 steers in the yarding which weighed above 330kg, the top rate in cents-a-kilogram for the few heavier types being 496c/kg.

Most of the action was on lighter weight calves as local North East traders started to try and replace cattle, with dollars-a-head buying a key element of the market which pushed cents-a-kilogram rates higher on the better bred lines of calves.

This was the observation made by commission buyer Andrew Lowe: “A lot of people were forced to sell cattle which weren’t replaced and are now understocked. You can see that a lot of agents here today have got up to $1250 to spend on little steers regardless of weight.”

Prices did go higher in cents-a-kilogram terms for some of the lightest calves, a mixed run of 114 steers under 200kg selling to $1010 at up to 553c/kg for 16 Angus that weighed 183kg from vendor Scrubby Hill Angus.

Scott Dowdle, and daughter Hallie, 5, from Lenexa near Wodonga were watching the market as they prepare to restock after selling cattle earlier but not replacing due to the season.

The steer category with the most numbers was the 200-280kg calves, with 390 selling to $1310 and averaging $1068 at a rate of 445c/kg which is on par with a fortnight ago.

Some key results for the bigger lines of steers were:

DS&FM Martin, Chiltern: 62 Angus yearlings, 302kg, $1490 (493c/kg) and $1440.

Glenara Angus, Tallangatta: 40 Angus weaners, 223kg, $1170 (524c/kg).

Walamba: 15 Angus, 292kg, $1390 (476c/kg).

DS&FM Martin: 14 Angus, 259kg, $1210 (467c/kg).

IB&CM Peacok: 19 Angus, 229kg, $1120 (489c/kg).

The heifer run achieved sales above 400c/kg for the best pens in each weight grade, ranging from less than 200kg to over 350kg.

The top price of the sale was claimed by Kenmore Charolais for six stand-out Charolais heifers hitch weighed 584kg and sold for $2270 (388c/kg). The next pen of 11 at 366kg made $1550 (423c/kg).

Runs of heifers were costing buyers averages between 360c/kg to 390c/kg.