Hereford steers hit a new breed record of 660c/kg in store sales during November as the sales momentum continued across the nation.
Restocker demand was strong for whiteface breeders with three-in-one Poll Hereford units selling for $2360 in the on-line auctions, and cows with young calves topping at $2400 in the store market.
Heavy grown Hereford steers continued to command prices of up to $2216 in the prime markets.
This was despite a 16c/kg fall in the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator and a 24c/kg easing in the NSW over-the-hook prices across the month.
Reduced yardings and good seasonal conditions continue to stoke the physical store markets.
At Bairnsdale in Gippsland, Meerlieu’s J Geehman sold yearling steers to $1815 (ave $1535) while C & S Commins, Ensay, topped the market with their PTIC 2.5 and 3.5-year-old Hereford heifers at $1700.
Steers weighing under 200kg returned a high of 600-660c/kg at Bairnsdale on November 11, eclipsing the previous high of 580c/kg in September 2016.
Joined Poll Hereford cows, four years, with calves, from Lake Cargelligo, NSW, sold on AuctionsPlus for $2360, while purebred cows, six to seven years, with calves, from Goulburn sold for $2040.
Cull bulls were still bringing good money in the physical market, allowing producers to upgrade at the forthcoming 2017 autumn bull sales.
The Adams family, of Staghorn Flat, Vic, sold a Hereford bull through the Wodonga prime market to return $3104 or 262c/kg. In the same market, Isabel Webb, Morven, sold dry Poll Hereford cows, 774kg, for $1919.
Heavy grown steers, 692kg, also sold at Wodonga during the month for 320c/kg or $2216.
Wistella Park, Pearcedale, sold grass finished steers they had bought from the Mountain Calf Sales in March. The 17-month-old steers weighed 478kg and returned $1700.
South Boorook, Mortlake, sold three yards of European Union accredited steers to average 344c/kg or $1507 at Ballarat.
At the NSW sales, Hereford weaner steers, under 200kg, made to 489c/kg at the CTLX Carcoar on November 11, with heavier weaners, 200-280kg, topping at 431c/kg.
Purebred cows with young calves made to $2400 and cows with older calves sold to $2100.
Backgrounder Hereford weaner steers, 13-14 months, 364kg, from Jerilderie, NSW, sold on AuctionsPlus for 359c/kg or $1310.
Mylora, Binalong, offered the annual draft of mixed sex Wirruna blood Poll Hereford weaners at the SELX Yass. The top pen of steers, 269kg, returned $1150 while the heifers, 287kg, made $930.
A highlight of the month at Dubbo was the draft of one mark, pastoral bred, spring 2015-drop heifers consigned by Mutooroo Pastoral Company, Broken Hill.
They weighed 265 to 475kg to average 351kg, and sold for 300-360c/kg to average $1150.
The heavy end at 475kg sold for 300c/kg or $1425 to top the market.
Purebred steer weaners from local property Corrodgery also topped the Dubbo market on $1270.
At South Australian markets, Nareen Station, Nareen, Vic, sold EU accredited heifers for 352-370c/kg at Naracoorte.
Station mated Poll Hereford cows, 3-8 years, with calves, from Orroroo, sold for $1960 on-line, and backgrounder Poll Hereford heifers, 249kg, from Port Augusta, made 365c/kg.
In Western Australia markets, M & J Brooker, Newdgate, sold Poll Hereford steers, 550kg, for $1562 at the Mt Barker sale.
A & L Evans, Kalgan, sold yearling Poll Hereford steers, 395kg, at Mt Barker for 326c/kg or $1290 and lighterweights, 377kg, for 340c/kg or $1282.
F Grigson & Sons, Jurien, also sold Poll Hereford steers, 583kg, for $1667 at Muchea while Aramea Pty Ltd sold bullocks, 755kg, for $1932 at Boyanup.
Cunyu Partners, Wiluna, sold a draft of 43 steers, 512kg, for a top of $1652 and average of $1332 at Muchea.
In Queensland, yearling Hereford heifers 387kg, from Bringalily, returned $1400 on AuctionsPlus.
Among the Black Baldy results, unjoined heifers and their calves from NSW, made $2060 on AuctionsPlus, while station mated cows, two to three years, with calves, from Gilgandra, NSW, sold for $1820.
Black Baldy cows and calves topped the Dubbo market at $2650 while Kleenview, Casterton, Vic, sold Black Baldy steers, 527kg, for $1635 at Mt Gambier, SA.
Weaner steers, 200-280kg, made to a top of 493c/kg at Dubbo.
In the Hereford cross results, Wotonga Grazing, Nebo, Qld, sold three pens of No 6 steers for 368c/kg, weighing 305kg, to return $1124 at the Gracemere yards.
Gindalbie Pastoral Co, Kalgoorlie sold a run of Hereford cross steers, 297kg, to a top of 330c/kg or $919 at Muchea, WA.
Unweaned Angus/Hereford/Shorthorn steers, 250kg, from Warren, NSW, sold for 402c/kg or $1005, and Charolais/Hereford backgrounder heifers, 357kg, from Jerilderie, NSW, returned $1170.
Hereford/Senepol cross trade heifers, 239kg, from Toobeah, Qld, sold for 366c/kg or $875 and Hereford cross backgrounder steers, 428kg, from Dalby, Qld, returned $1300.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator finished the month on 642.75c/kg – down from 658.75c/kg.
Meat and Livestock Australia reports short fed (100-120 days on feed) EU steers, weighing 380-500kg, averaging 362- down from 385c/kg last month.
In the domestic paddock sales, steers (280-350kg) averaged 349c/kg and heifers (same weight) averaged 329c/kg.
NSW over-the-hooks rates for MSA yearling steers stood at 573c/kg for 280-300kg carcass weight.
