Video: Excellent result for opening Wodonga weaner sale

Steaming hot temperatures did not deter people from attending the first day of the 2017 annual feature calf sales at the NVLX’s Wodonga selling complex at Barnawartha.

Credit goes to producers, transport operators, Wodonga agents, Corcoran Parker, Elders and Landmark, for their ability to put together this sale, considering the heat and the size of the sale.

Just over 6,400 Angus steers and heifers were penned to produce arguably the best offering of Angus cattle in many years. There were several features in this sale with the very good season aiding very good condition, and extra weight, and producers have excelled in the breeding of their cattle.

Put this together with strong competition from producers and backgrounders, and adding some feedlot and breeder demand, and the scene was set for an excellent day.

Commencing on a selection of yearling steers, ranging in weight from 340-512 kilograms, gave producers a good range. This created solid competition with the heaviest steers selling to $1700, for The MJW Trust, Table Top. Equivalent liveweight prices showed the best rends with a range of 311-336c for heavy weights, and 345-397c for lighter weights steers.

However, this sale is noted for the thousands of 2016, autumn drop calves. Many of the calves had been weaned, but a good number were straight of mum, and this was noted by many buyers, and prices were adjusted accordingly.

Agents commenced the calf sale with a few feature lines of EU accredited steers. There was definite premium for these steers with Thomas Foods International and steer fatteners bidding.

SH Ray Farm Trust, “Waralla”, Ournie, sold 154 steers from $1235-$1425, or 384-426c/k lwt. Davilak Pastoral Co, Mansfield, sold 531 steers, fully weaned, from $1200-$1415, or 398-456c, and averaged a resounding 428c/kg lwt. WN McDonald & Sons, Rosewhite, offered 71 steers making to $1420, or 402c/kg lwt. All of these prices showed a premium of 10-30c/kg lwt.

Competition varied depending on the weight of the steers with northern competition coming in for steers weighing 315kgs and lighter. This saw many of the lighter steers sell very well with many selling from $1150-$1315, and many heading as far as Coonamble.  Deepdale Tallarook P/L, sold 157 steers between $1190&$1370, or 386-454c/kg, which is a good reflection of the sales trends.

However, very light steers did sell to 530c/kg lwt. DFK Heywood & Sons, Glenrock, Everton, sold 173 steers from $960-$1255.

Kevin Corcoran, Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, said “this has been a very successful sale, and reached above the expectations of most clients”.

Strong demand for quality heifers for future breeders led to strong results. SH Ray Farm Trust sold 120 heifers, EU accredited, from $1065-$1285, all bought for breeding, the bulk of the heifers heading to Glen Inness. Sue Ray was very happy with this result, which equalled 383-387c/kg in liveweight price terms.

Most heifers sold in a range from $950-$1270, or 345-385c/kg liveweight. Some of these heifers were purchased for a South Australian backgrounder and feedlot. Very light heifers sold well over 420c/kg lwt.