The front page of the first edition of Stock & Land for 2016 declared Victoria’s 2016 weaner sales had started with a bang in the Western District.
The staggering prices received have smashed the previous year’s results by a comfortable 100 cents per kilogram live weight thanks to increased competition from northern buyers.
The weaner sales kicked off on January 4 with the Hamilton Independent Agents’ Angus steer sale.
Prices were 100c/kg up on the previous year, for a yarding that was estimated to be 20 to 30kg heavier.
Thanks to good rains over much of northern NSW and Queensland, at least four northern buyers were active and Landmark International purchased about 500 of the 2740 steers offered for its March shipping order.
Northern buyers also dominated the buying gallery at the Landmark Casterton weaner steer sale on the Tuesday where “sensational” prices topped at 354c/kg and were 110c/kg lwt up on the previous year.
The following day’s Hereford steer weaner sale at Hamilton was quoted as one of the best in 30 years.
Ellis and Co auctioneer Craig Pertzel said the yarding of 2500 was one of the best he’d seen and the prices were “exceptional”.
Weaner sales also kicked off that week in the north east, with Wodonga hosting two sales, where steers averaged $1157 and $1193 respectively and the smaller numbers of heifers also drove high prices.
These weaner sales typified the competition between restockers, feedlots and processors for cattle, resulting in the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) – the rolling seven day average – pushing up to record highs.
In the first EYCI for 2016 was given on Monday January 11 at 584.25c/kg carcase weight.
It crept up to 598.75c/kg on Tuesday and by Wednesday it hit 600c/kg. While it did drop slightly in March and April, it then increased to 725.75c/kg on August 17 before tapering off at the end of the year.
Greg Bright, Landmark Casterton, said the exceptional weaner sales exceeded expectations. He said they set the tone for the rest of the year. “We’ve never had a year like it,” Mr Bright said.
“And we hope that’s the new norm.”
He said it was terrific to see the people who had worked all year and more, be rewarded with good money for their weaners.
He said while the March and April sales had slightly lower prices reflecting the late autumn break, the prices since picked up and had since been “terrific”.
“And we expect the weaner sales to be strong again next year.”
