Repeat buyers pay to $1930 for leading Hereford genetics

By Kim Woods

NSW steer finishers competed strongly on big runs of vendor bred, European Union accredited calves at the Hamilton Hereford feature weaner sale with prices hitting the Western Districts circuit topper for purebred steers of $1930.

Selling agents JM Ellis & Co, LMB Livestock & Land, Lanyons, Kerr & Co, Southern Grampians Livestock and J & J Kelly yarded 2473 Hereford and Hereford cross steers and heifers for the feature weaner sale on January 11.

The run of quality autumn drop Hereford steers averaged 472c/ kg or $1541 and grossed $1.96 million while the Hereford cross steers averaged 482c/kg or $1697. Overall the sale grossed $3.81 million.

Coles national livestock manager for beef and lamb, Stephen Rennie, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen, awarding the sash to Gordon, Jane and Owen McClure, Beerik Partnership, Coleraine, for a pen of 29 European Union accredited steers, Yarram Park, Injemira and Melville Park blood, and weighing 378kg.

The pen sold for $1844 or 488c/ kg to Wagga Wagga commission buyer Andrew Lowe. Beerik offered 101 steers and last year the calves topped at 615c/ kg or $2358.

Mr Rennie said the Beerik steers had maximum credentials with EU accreditation, grass fed, weaned, good temperament and evenness of the pen making them attractive to purchasers wanting flexibility for markets.

He suggested vendors include the health status, including time since weaning and all health treatments to maximise purchasers.

The sale opened on the draft from Leon Wheeler, Wallacedale, with the pen of 23 EU accredited, Yarram Park and Mawarra steers, weighing 409kg, receiving the best presented pen award.

They were snapped up by steer finisher and repeat buyer, Paul Mason, Wellington, NSW, for $1930 or 472c/ kg – the top price on a dollars per head basis for the purebred autumn drop steers.

Mr Wheeler’s seconds were a pen of 26 Shorthorn/Hereford steers, February drop, weighing 402kg, and returning $2001 or 498c/kg, the equal top sale price on a cents per kilogram basis. His thirds, a run of 82 Herefords weighing 371kg sold to Paul Mason for $1788 or 482c/kg.

Repeat buyers looking for quality Hereford genetics for grass fed programs paid to a top of $1828 for autumn drop steer weaners at the Hamilton All Breeds Weaner Sale.

Selling agents Elders, Nutrien Ag Solutions and J & J Kelly yarded 3250 Hereford, Hereford cross, Angus and Euro steer weaners in the January 10 fixture, the opening salvo for the Hereford breed in the Western Districts sale circuit.

Ben Davies, Thomas Foods International, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen and selected the lead pen in the draft from John and Liz Craig, “Inverell”, Casterton and Hamilton.

The pen of 22 March/April drop calves were Yarram Park blood, yard weaned in December, weighed 389kg and carried accreditations for European Union and Greenhams Never Ever markets.

They were snapped up by Andrew Lowe for repeat buyer and grass-fed steer finisher Paul Mason, Wellington,

NSW, for the top purebred Hereford price of $1828 or 470c/kg.

Mr Davies described the steers as showing plenty of length, bone and weight for age.

The Craig family also topped the autumn drop Hereford weaners on a cents per kilogram basis with a pen of 28 weighing 282kg returning 502c/kg or $1415.

Dinwooly Farm topped the black baldies on a cents per kilogram basis with a pen of 17 weighing 325kg and making 495c/kg or $1608.

Alison Woolridge and Wilf Dinning, who run 300 cows at Merino, were on hand to see their 89 Hereford and black baldy steers from Dinwooly Farm sell.

“We use Angus over the (Hereford) heifers to take advantage of the hybrid vigour. A few years back we were part of an AI trial with Hereford, Angus, Limousin and Simmental, and if we had any doubts about using Hereford, it would have shown up in that trial,” Alison said.

“The temperament, ease of calving and growth – they tick every box. The buyers are coming back every year looking for our animals. They tell us the steers walk off the truck and start eating.”