Mountain calf sales kick off with autumn drop steers to $1870

from Herefords Australia - Winter 2023

Vale - William Kenneth “Cowboy” Godbolt

By Kim Woods

Gippsland steer finishers snapped up heavy cattle while southern NSW buyers punting on autumn rain thought Hereford heifer weaners were value buying at the Benambra Calf Sale.

Victorian and NSW steer finishers, restockers and lot feeders converged on the Victorian High Country to bid for whiteface cattle at the 83rd annual Mountain Calf Sales circuit opener.

Selling agents Nutrien Ag Solutions yarded 1600 yearling and weaner Hereford, Hereford cross, Angus and Euro steers and heifers for the March 7 fixture at the Hinnomunjie yards.

Heavy yearling Hereford steers, spring drop 2021, sold for $1730-$2050 (362-375c/kg).

The overall run of autumn drop Hereford steers topped at $1870 and sold down to $600.

Black Baldy steers returned $810$2140 while Hereford/Shorthorn steers sold for $800-$1900 and Hereford/ Brafords $880.

In the heifer pens, spring drop 2021 Hereford and Hereford/Shorthorn females sold for $1200 or 272c/kg while the autumn drop Hereford heifers returned $580-$1260 and the black baldy heifers made $590-$760.

Steer finisher Alan Mitchell, Wonthaggi, judged the Herefords Australia champion pen, awarding the sash to Gus and Sandra

Crisp, Omeo, for their Mawarra and Newcomen blood steers.

The champion pen made $1780 purchased by Pat Cleary, Elders Moss Vale. The seconds sold for $1700 to Elders Korumburra.

Mr Mitchell described the pen as well grown, with depth of body, and well weaned.

He paid $1730-$1980 for the tops of the spring drop Hereford steers at the sale, aiming for a quick turn-around to supply the Greenham Never Ever program.

Jim Pendergast, Penderscort, Hinnomunjie, opened the sale with heavy grown black baldy steers, with a green weight of 609kg, and selling for $2140 or 370c/kg (curfew weight).

Topping the autumn drop Hereford steer weaners was R E Hutton with his pen of 12, Mawarra blood, 10- to 12-month-old steers for $1870, snapped up by SEJ Leongatha.

Peter Soutter, Benambra, sold a draft of 88 April/May drop steers, Karoonda, Nunniong and Newcomen blood, to a top of $1710.

In the females, Gus and Sandra Crisp sold the top priced purebred Hereford females with a pen of 17 making $1260 to Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Selection Matters...

Donald Betts, Bairnsdale, sold Yarram Park and Nunniong blood Hereford and Hereford/Shorthorn grown females with a green weight of 464kg and returning a curfewed 272c/kg or $1200.

Graeme Fullgrabe, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Bairnsdale, said cattle sold to the Riverina on the punt of autumn rain while South Gippsland steer finishers were strong on the front lane heavier cattle.

Our commitment to market savvy selection will ensure our bulls give clients market premiums t More calves to sell... our years of selection for CE daughters and CE direct ensure more live calves t Better growth at early ages... selection emphasis on 400 day wt. gives more weight to sell and better ossification for top MSA indexes t Better market compliance... from balanced selection for growth, fat, muscle and IMF to suit processor grids t Outstanding EMA’s... selected to achieve better yields and dressing percentages for increased returns without compromising CE t More IMF... to enhance eating quality for consumers, achieve higher MSA indexes and better Feedlot acceptance

Our sale bulls regularly rate in the top 5% for CE, 400 day growth, EMA, IMF, Yield and $Indexes

All bulls poll tested, sire verified and free from genetic diseases

SALE DATE - July 26th 2023 @ 11.30am