Walking the grass laneways of the Ensay saleyards, while local Hereford cattle are auctioned will happen no more, with the town’s only cattle sale of the year being shifted away.
The Ensay sale is usually the fourth in the string of five sales of the Mountain Calf sales in early March, but this year, at a meeting in January between Elders agents and Ensay vendors, it was decided to shift the historic sale to the East Gippsland Livestock Exchange in Bairnsdale.
The Ensay cattle will now be sold on the Monday as part of the first of the five sales.
Animal welfare is the main reason cited by Elders’ selling agent, Morgan Davies, who said it was a “week-long decision” where all parties were canvassed.
“It’s an opportunity to continue the sale under a roof, with soft flooring and water in every pen,” Mr Davies said.
“No one really opposed it, and yes, it’s a big change but change is sometimes for the better.
“We’ve had issues with weather events in the past, wet weather, hot conditions, this change puts us in a better position.
“We’re doing what’s best for clients and we’ve learnt lessons from other facilities without those amenities.
“Bairnsdale is a fantastic modern selling facility to utilise.”
The Mountain Calf Sales are into the 86th year, with the Ensay sale starting in about 1965.
The move means the dates have changed by a day, rather than five sales over Tuesday/Wednesday, there will now be five sales across Monday and Tuesday.
Mr Davies said there were no other cattle sales in the state on the Monday the sale will occur.
“It’s the same cattle, the same people, just a different facility.
“Time’s are a-changing – let’s revolutionise the Mountain Calf Sales.”
Despite harsh conditions in some parts of the mountains, with a lack of water forcing the hand of some farmers to sell their cattle early, Mr Davies still expects Ensay to yield around its usual 1150-head yarding and 6000-7000 head over the two days of sales.
Ensay beef producer and Hereford stud principal, Barry Newcomen, was interviewed on the Country Hour last Friday where he said while it was a bit disappointing, he thought it was a positive move.
“If we get heavy rain or hot and dusty conditions it affects the cattle, it’s not beneficial for them standing in the yards,” Mr Newcomen said.
“There’s no water, shade or weighing facilities and the buyers want them weighed.
“I’ve been told some of the commission buyers won’t buy them up here because they’re not weighed.
“I’d like to see all the Mountain Calf sales cattle sold in one big sale in Bairnsdale in the future and I think that will happen.
“I foresee that if we have a well-advertised and promoted sale in Bairnsdale then the calf breeders at Gelantipy and Buchan and Dargo, anyone who has good Hereford cattle could sell there.”
He said the Ensay yards should be looked after for times of emergency.
Fellow stud stock breeder and cattle producer, Phillip ‘Bluey’ Commins, said though he wasn’t really happy about the venue change it was ‘just one of those things’.
“It’ll possibly be better in the long run,” Mr Commins said.
“It’ll cost money to keep it going here, they (Elders) should’ve spent money on it in the past.
“But the buyers want the calves weighed.”
The Mountain Calf Sales will begin on Monday, March 2 at Bairnsdale’s East Gippsland Livestock Exchange at 9am, followed by a quick trip up the mountain for the Hereford sale at the Omeo Saleyards at 1pm.
Nutrien East Gippsland Livestock’s Brad Obst said the traditional Tuesday morning sale at the Hinnomunjie saleyards will start at 9.30am and did not comment on the Ensay sale changes.
The Benambra sale will then follow at 11am on Tuesday, with the Omeo Black sale from 1pm.
