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Words: Fiona Sheean Producer: Grace Mckinnon
Calf sales: High prices tempt on-farm sell off
Last year, Nick Lillie made the call to sell his calves before the feature sales in January, but he’s holding off this time around.
It was tempting for the Mortlake producer to cash in early on record prices by selling his 400 weaner calves prior to the annual New Year calf sales but he has held off for good reason.
The talk is pretty positive about the sales … there is a lot of competition around and with NSW and Queensland getting some rain, who knows where it (prices) will go.
NICK LILLIE
“”
Nick sold his draft early in October last year but with the extraordinarily good season this year, he has opted to add more weight to the calves and see if it pays dividends at the traditional sales.
The draft includes Angus, Hereford and black baldy autumn-drop steers and heifers that are expected to be about 50kg heavier than last year.
Traditionally the Lillie family has sold to feedlots but has been pleased with sale results from Mortlake for the past five years.
Nick runs just over 1000 breeders with spring and autumn joining and the aim of turning off 1000 head a year. Numbers are his key to viability.
Nick used to operate his own stud, Wolbull Poll Herefords, prior to it being dispersed, and he still breeds his own Angus and Poll Hereford bulls for use in his herd. 
Optimism for the sales has never been higher, but Nick was hesitant to hazard a guess at how high prices might go for fear of putting a price ceiling on it.
You don’t want the house of cards to tumble because the guys buying can’t make any money or the meatworks can’t make any money.
NICK LILLIE
“”
As long as everyone can make money along the supply chain, that’s our main concern.
																																								

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/web-stories/free/the-weekly-times/calf-sales-high-prices-tempt-nick-lillie-to-sell