Signature lines of Angus cattle have met an exceptional demand at Ballarat's feature female sale on Friday, with the renowned Langi Kal Kal heifers stealing the limelight, selling to a season-high of $3475 a head.
The undeclared telephone buyer of its first pen of 18, bought through Landmark Warrnambool, also secured a second LKK pen of 11 for the stand-out price of $3275.
The Department of Justice and Reguations state ag manager Matthew Menhennet said: “the sale reflects the value of good quality Angus Australia registered cattle. It is a focus the staff and prisoners have while continually improving the LKK cow herd”.
Away from these lots the next best PTIC heifer price was $2450 for last year’s market toppers - a yard of Carngham Station bred Golden Grove heifers prepared by Shane Maher, Newlyn, while most other Angus heifer lots made $1600- $2350 per head.
Ballarat stock agent president James Haddrick said on Monday that prices achieved in this inaugural stand-alone joined female were quite extraordinary.
“There were a large number of joined female cattle offered throughout Western Victoria and South Australia last week and the more we hear of these other results the better the Ballarat result looks” he said.
The more we hear of these other results the better the Ballarat result looks
- James Haddrick, Ballarat stock agents
“Ballarat agents have worked hard to build the quality and reputation of this sale and it was the first occasion our female yardings have been split for joined and unjoined”.
“However it was not only the strength of the joined heifer demand that was so remarkable. All ages of joined cows have also met exceptional inquiry - many selling for $200, $300 and $400 a head above expectation”.
These sales included prices from $2100 to $2350 for pens of 2nd- to 3rd-calvers, PTIC, and to $1950 a head for pens of PTIC 4th and 5th calvers.
Sales of quality cows and calves, which included the dispersal of CR Weatherly, Skipton spring-calving Angus herd of 160 females, with calves at foot, were sold mostly from $2400 to $2700 per outfit.
While the best priced 2nd- calvers was a pen of re-depastured ex stud heifers, sold account Tiarna Angus that had fresh, spring-drop calves at foot, made $2850 a head.
The sale of CR Wheaterly spring-calving herd was greeted with amazing interest.
Long regarded in the Ballarat-district for its exceptional performance, its pens of 1st and 2nd calf heifers were principally secured by the one single buyer, HF Richardson Ballarat for Grassmere client, Hugh McEachern.
Altogether the order claimed 98 breeders from the Weatherly spring-calving herd paying to $2700 for a purchase average of $2578.