Young steer and heifer prices remained as strong as ever at the second of Roberts Limited’s annual weaner sales, held last Thursday at Powranna, Tasmania.
The quality of the 1900-head yarding was again exceptional, with the vast majority being straight-bred Angus from most parts of the state.
NLRS reporter Richard Bailey said the car park was not as full as normal and no mainland buyers were present.
The market, he said, started off a little softer on an excellent run of heavier weaners. However as the market progressed into the third lane of the steer sale, and with weights still hovering around the 300 kilogram mark, he said the market firmed to regain recent rates as the steer yarding averaged $1259 or 418c/kg.
Mr Bailey said most vendors had reported their calves were 30-40kg heavier than last year, and very few very light cattle were included.
Most steers, he said, were bought by Northern Midland and North West coast backgrounders. The local feedlot also bought steers, while in the heifer section both Tasmanian exporters were prominent buyers, shoring-up their respective kill for the spring.
Roberts auctioneer Nick Towns said weights at the top of the yarding hurt the market result in cents per kilogram terms.
“But in dollar terms it was a fantastic result with large number of sales in the $1200-$1400 bracket and plenty that made $1100-$1200 through the middle stage,” he said.
Among the better sales were a draft of 91 EA Triffet and Son Hereford steers from Ouse, Tas, which sold to $1470 a head, average $1389. EJ Nicholls, Bridport, Tas, sold 80 Angus steers to $1470, av $1288, while David Bresneham, Triabunna, Tas, sold 20 Hereford steers to the sale high of $1580.
Heavy steer calves throughout the sale mostly made $1200-$1480 a head. Medium weights made $1130-$1390, light $890-$1210 and the few very small $830-$900.
The heavier calves were worked out between 350c and 400c/kg, with medium weights costed at 380-445c and lighter, 400-460c/kg.
Most heifers worked out between 350c and 380c/kg. The heaviest heifers made $1190-$1410 a head, medium weights $960-$1200, light $780-$900 and very small $620-$780. Heifer sales were lead by a JT&AC McCormack, Kimberley, Tas, with their pen of European-cross heifers that made $1410 while JT&LD Lyne sold Angus heifers to $1300.
Cleveland
Prices were also strong as ever at the annual sale of the Cleveland Pastoral Angus and black baldy weaners held on property at Ouse, north-west of Hobart.
Offering some 950 head from a prominently Banquet-based herd, the steer portion of the Shoobridge family offering made to $1300, av $1191 a head; while heifer prices topped at $950, av $870.
Roberts Limited’s Warren Johnston said prices were strong and perhaps a touch firmer than other Tasmanian sales.
He said prices hovered around the $1200 a head mark regardless of weight for much of the steer sale.
“The cattle were drafted only four or five ways, and they reflected the signs of season,” he said.
“The cattle were sold unweighed but across the draft weights would have ranged from 190 to 300kg, which was about normal for the Cleveland cattle after being born into a long dry spell and then run through a very wet winter.”
Repeat buyers were active and bought the full range of cattle. Longtime supporters Peeble Brothers, Morris Hill, Cherry Hill Coolstores, G Wigg and Son, and Bruce Johnston were the principal buyers of the steer drafts; while Craigie Bros were the main buyers of the heifers.