Hawkesdale farmer Tom Robertson was upbeat at the Warrnambool May store cattle sale on Friday after one of the biggest single payouts of his 60-year career in farming.
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Ongoing high beef prices delivered Mr Robertson a payout of nearly $854,000 for the 786 Angus cattle he sold at Friday’s store sale.
“Farming is fun again,” he quipped while also reflecting on some of the hard times livestock producers had been through during his career.
The May store sale incorporates Mr Robertson’s spring drop of cattle and he sold 500 steers for an average of $1113.20 and 286 heifers for an average of $1042. This year’s spring drop of 786 head was one of his biggest bi-annual offerings.
In the overall store sale, 3143 adult cattle and about 120 calves were sold.
The top price for steers in the overall auction was the $4.24/kg for the 17 Angus from D & M Pevitt weighing an average of 302kgs.
A top price for heifers was $3.94c/kg for 24 Angus averaging 386kgs from M.A. Heenan.
Warranmbool Stock Agents Association president Jack Kelly said vendors were very happy with the prices they received.
Mr Kelly said buyers came from “everywhere” including from “up north”, South Australia and local districts.
Mr Robertson said the excellent prices were prompting him to build up his herd but his “Moyne Falls” property was close to capacity.
“I’m putting out more bulls, I’m getting more cows and putting out more fertiliser,” he said.
But Mr Robertson said he was holding back some heifers from sale “to keep the herd young and selecting out of them.”
He said Friday’s payout “gives money to put back into the farm and into the cattle.”
Mr Robertson said he was doing a lot of genetic testing to improve his herd’s breeding and make it more competitive.
He was using the i50K process that enabled him to predict the estimated breeding values of calves, he said.
In the open auction, steers sold between $920-$1340. Friesian steers sold $720-$1100, little Friesians $400-$650 and heifers from $750-$1170. Cows and calves sold between $2000-$3060.
Other top steer prices were: Toora West, 20 Angus, 495kgs, $3.58/kg, $1772; Toora West, 21 Angus, 459kgs, $3.62, $1661; Grassland, 137 Angus, 397kg, $3.66, $1453; Rosverland, 20 Angus, 431kg, $3.55, $1530; M.A. Heenan, 29 Angus, 396kg, $3.66, $1449; Andreas, 15 Angus, 349kg, $4, $1396; J&J Glare, 23 Angus, 323kg, $3.96, $1279; Gumvale, 12 Angus, 290kg, $4.16, $1206.
Top prices for heifers included: Toora West, 24 Angus, 395kg, $3.58, $1414; Pineyup, 10 Angus, 458kg, $3.29, $1506.
