Operating as Day Four of the 2018 Hamilton weaner series, buyer agents from South Gippsland, Pakenham and Benalla secured the lion’s share of the yarding along with underpinning support by major feeders from Burra, SA, Murray Downs, NSW and domestic processors at Kyneton and Swan Hill.

Steers, weighing 360-450 kilograms, sold for $1000-$1248, averaging 292c/kg.

Those weighing 280-360kg sold for between $850-$1073, averaging 298c/kg.

Heifers, 360-450kg sold for $1020-$1157, averaging 284c/kg, while those 280-360kg sold for $860-$1008, averaging 289c/kg. 

The 1648-head penning, which for the fourth time this weaner series weighed exactly the same average weight as 12 months ago – 350kg – offered a dominance of Charolais-sired weaners along with a small selection each of Limousin and Simmental-infused steers and heifers.

It was the third staging of the Euro-breeds sale for Hamilton independent agents and the numbers offered this year were slightly higher on the 1588 head cleared 12 months ago.

The opening yard, a pen of 427kg Boolong Charolais steers offered by Des and Nola Stuchberry of Heywood, was bid to 284c/kg by Landmark Leongatha to realise $1212 a head.

Landmark claimed 500 steers and heifers for four clients across the yarding, with its haul also securing the second pen of the Boolong steers, 384kg at 293c or $1125 a head.

Pakenham agents, Rodwells and Elders each displayed a strong interest as ongoing repeat buyers.

The Elders order booked 18 Grassland steers, 410kg, at 300c/kg while the Rodwells order made a clean sweep of two pure Limousin lines, paying 299c/kg for the tops of Innisfail, Nareen draft, 393kg and 310c/kg for the lead draft of EF Neeson and Sons, Nareen pen of 17 head, 373kg.

As a repeat buyer, Rodwells Benalla returned to claim the entire draft of The Highlands Simmental-Shorthorn-Hereford steers offered by Malcolm and Sherri Robertson, Paschendale.

The tops of The Highland steers, 418kg, were bid to 295c/kg or $1233 while the second draft of 52 head, 378kg, made 310c/kg or $1171 average.

The rewards for the market’s best price pens went to the Armytage family, Willaura, with their Delamere Charolais steers, 426kg sold at 293c/kg or $1248/head while the second pen of the Delamere line with 30 head penned, 389kg, was bid to 295c/kg or $1147/head.

Throughout the sale a reasonable number of vendor lines were offered as EU-accredited.

However with only one feedlot buyer interested in EU lines – Princess Royal Station, Burra, SA – the vast majority were dropped out of the scheme with no noticeable premium forthcoming.

Heifer sales, across the board, met even competition.

Prices varied little from 275 to 293c/kg with selected repeat buyer purchases made up to 316c/kg.  

At Day Three of the Hamilton weaner sales last week, the Hereford steer sale conducted by the independent agents group attracted only irregular demand.

But a small handful of repeat buyers took a strong stance on selected lines of performance cattle with most making from 318 to 331c/kg in the opening lanes.

Steers, weighing 360-450kg, sold for $1030-$1297, averaging 307c/kg, while those weighing 280-360kg went for $883-$1552, averaging 310c/kg.

Cattle, with less profile and especially those not carrying an EU-accredited green-sticker, sold on base rates of 285 to 310c/kg.

Agents yarded 1492 Hereford steers that offered an average weight of 338kg - the same as the sale offered in 2017.

The driving force to demand was NSW repeat buyer, Paul Mason, Wellington who secured 360 head on bids placed between 320- 331c/kg for a top price of $1271.

SA lot feeder, Princess Royal Station, Burra and Holbrook, NSW seed stock producer Injemira Advanced Genetics, were other serious EU contenders while Landmark Leongatha and Colin Say & Co, Glen Innes, NSW along local backgrounder Tim Hutton, Nigretta provided the backup support.

Auctioneer Bernie Grant said the best demand appeared heavily skewed towards the high performance, EU-accredited lines. 

“The repeat buyers, the ones who have had these cattle before, bought their cattle again on bids placed between 310 and 330c/kg while other heavier pens were sold, some in the 290s and most from 300 to 305c/kg which looked good buying,” Mr Grant said.

“But when prices are calculated in dollar per head terms, a good portion of the yarding were sold from $1000 to $1200 per head or better, and most clients would be happy with that,” he said.

Mr Grant said the gallery of interstate buyers was smaller than for the weaner sales at Hamilton earlier in the week but those who stayed did purchase cattle.

He said most lighter steer sales made 320-330c/kg, which when analysed, realised $850-$950 and appeared good buying on the day. 

Leon and Sally Wheeler, Wallacedale, topped the sale, selling 23 EU Hereford steers, 431kg at 301c/kg for $1297/head.

The market’s next best sale was a pen of EU Hereford steers, 431kg sold 300c/kg or $1293 from the Pepper family, Tahara,while the best presented yarding, 28 Hereford steers, 375kg, offered by Bruce and Debbie Miller, Rowan, Nareen, made 331c/kg or $1241.    

Indicative prices from the sale are:

Wheeler – 162 head, EU to $1252, av, $1145

 Orana – 160, EU to $1271, av $1072

Rowan - 148, EU to $1241, av $1111

Murndal – 133 EU to $1280, av $1113

Lochredal– 96 EU to $1293, av $1138