Hamilton Angus weaner steers bought by backgrounders, graziers

Agents yarded 4072 steers on Monday for the first of several western district sales this week where more than 20,000 young cattle will go under the hammer.

Dry conditions in western Victoria meant cattle were back in weight - 10 kilograms down on average compared to the same sale in 2022.

Across the yarding, the steers averaged 356kg, while it took until pen 100 for the cattle to fall below 300kg.

Southern Victorian and western district agents dominated the opening pens of the sale, while Elders Killara Feedlot, Quirindi, NSW, and JBS were buying cattle to background and feedlot.

Most of the yarding was aged nine to 11 months.

Hamilton Stock Agents' Association president Bernie Grant described the sale as a "good, solid result".

"The first two lanes of cattle hit 500 cents a kilogram and they weighed around 400kg and I reckon that was 20-30c/kg above where I thought it would be," he said.

"A lot of cattle went back into Gippsland, the south-east of SA, as well as cattle to Geelong and district, as well as local buyers and a handful of buyers from northern Victoria and NSW.

"Most of the steers sold between $1500-$1700, the top end was pushing $1850-$1900, and some calves made more than $2000."

The sale started with a pen of 24 steers consigned by Glenerin, 413kg, which made 504c/kg or $2081 and was bought by Terry Ginnane, Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock, Leongatha, who was a prominent buyer.

IS & HJ Brown sold the second and best presented pen of the sale with 38 steers, 409kg, knocked down for 504c/kg or $2061, as well as 31 steers, 359kg, for 482c/kg or $1730.

EJC Cameron, Wallacedale, sold 174 Angus and Black Baldy steers including 25 steers, 393kg, for 500c/kg or $1965.

The Johnston family, trading as Waradgery, Brit Brit, sold 120 Angus steers including 38 steers, 371kg, for 476c/kg or $1765.

Eumeralla Springs sold 50 Angus steers including 20 steers, 403kg, for 474c/kg or $1910.

Michael Coffey, Coffey Partnership, Toolong, sold 108 Angus steers, nine to 10 months, including a sale top-priced pen of 22 steers, 413kg, for 516c/kg or $2131, as well as 57 steers, 376kg, for 520c/kg or $1955.

Mr Coffey said his draft averaged $1911, which was more than $700 down compared to his 2022 consignment.

The Holcomb family of Camp Creek, Branxholme, sold 160 Angus steers including 27 steers, 436kg, for 474c/kg or $2066, as well as 65 steers, 383kg, for 490c/kg or $1876.

Meanwhile, the Linke family, Mount Napier, sold 177 steers including 22 steers, 395kg, for 504c/kg or $1990, and 74 steers, 354kg, for 528c/kg or $1869.

The same vendor also sold 56 steers, 312kg, for 520c/kg or $1622.

John McErvale, Cadel, Branxholme, sold 200 Angus and Black Baldy steers including 35 steers, 409kg, for 465kg or $1901, and 60 steers, 362kg, for 474c/kg or $1715.