Mountain calf sale vendors dusted off their notebooks last week to record their annual cattle prices, with most glad to see the backs of their stock.
Seasonal conditions at Omeo, Benambra and Hinnomunjie had deteriorated to the point where producers were running out of feed, and some were running out of water.
Ensay and Swifts Creek had been luckier with thunderstorms, but the majority of vendors said prices seemed fair for how dry the state-wide conditions were.
Fortunately, there were some strong volume buyers on hand buying for backgrounders and feedlotters, including Elders Yea, Wellington Livestock, Dalrose Pastoral, Maffra, Coles, Hodgson Ag, Flynn, Elders Moss Vale and Graeme Osborn of South Gippsland.
Hinnomunjie
At the Hinnomunjie sale, conducted by Nutrien East Gippsland Livestock, Brad Obst made special mention of Sharp Fullgrabe’s Graeme Fullgrabe who celebrated 50 years of involvement with the Mountain Calf Sales that day.
Post-sale Mr Fullgrabe said it had been ‘an enormous sale’ with the ‘little fellas making $4/kg-plus and larger stock making $3.80-$4/kg’, with many going to backgrounders.
Donald Betts and family again penned the first two lots of steers, the tops weighing 603kg and the opening bid at a heartening $2100 a head.
Jamie Quinlan of Elders Yea, who turned out to be one of the major buyers of the five-sale series, snapped up both pens of 11 and 13 head at $2250/head and $2030/head, the second pen weighing an average 543kg.
The next pen of 21 steers weighed in at 485kg, sold by Munson and Coleman for $1830/head, with G and S Crisp selling their 20 for $1700/head, and another pen of Betts steers weighing an average 410kg made $1620.
Peter Soutter and family were awarded the champion best presented pen of Herefords by Herefords Australia, which later sold for $1530/head.
The judge was South Gippsland buyer Alan Mitchell who said he made his selection based on them being genuine weaner calves at 10 months old, well weaned, deep and square cattle that were ‘good in the hair’.
He also commented the prices for the morning were as dear as at VLE in Leongatha’.
Jim Pendergast, of Benambra, was at the sale, which was hosted on his property, and bought a couple of pens of steers.
Speaking to John Coates, of Buchan, about the seasonal conditions, Mr Pendergast commented that in the autumn of 1983 it was worse than the current season.
“They used to hold three calf sales and between the first and second sale we had that much rain it went from nothing to clover and we had cattle die of bloat,” he said.
“That’s how quickly it can change.
“I’m not saying it will.”
He said he had tipped 36mm out of his rain gauge a fortnight ago but it had ‘just disappeared’ without any follow up.
“It’ll rain again one day,” he said with a smile.
Omeo Blacks
The auction was rapid and bids flew, with pens knocked down and cattle on trucks in record time at Omeo.
Di and Clive Anderson sold 467 head at Omeo, with another 139 Herefords sold later at Benambra, their top Angus steers making $1670/head.
“We’ve got no grass,” Di said.
“We need to protect our cows, all the dry cows will go too, it’s tough times.
“The calves look good for what they’ve had to eat.”
There were 3058 cattle yarded at Benambra, which sold for an overall $1160/head average.
The 1518 steers averaged $1244/head while 1540 heifers averaged $1078/head.
The top steers made $1830, sold by Daniel and Martine Plowman, while the top-priced heifers honour went to Dawn-Raine P/L, Dawn Boulton, along with the Commins family’s Meringo Pastoral heifers, Benambra.
One family had steers bought by JBS at a rate of 30c/kg less than if sent directly to the abattoir, which they weren’t particularly impressed with.
Black Mountain Station sent in small cattle with a pen estimated at 160kg making $870/head and another slighty larger pen making $970.
The Commins family of Meringo, Benambra, sold 188 heifers from $1310-$1500/head, at an average $1418/head, with some selling to Hopkins River Beef.
Rick and Amanda Crisp sold 197 mixed-sex calves with the bottoms making $880.
“You always want more, but they’ve done well for what they’ve come off,” Rick said.
Benambra
At Benambra almost 1500 head were yarded with the overall average at $1090/head, 787 steers averaging $1231 and 691 heifers averaging $930.
The top steers made $1700, sold by the Pendergast family, John, Amanda, Emily and Jake, of ‘Matunga’, while the top-priced heifers were sold by BJ and JB Carroll making $1390.
John Pendergast said it was the first time they had topped the steers but that his father would have in the past.
“They’re mainly by Karoonda bulls, all they need is feed and they’ll grow,” he said.
“They’re quiet, it’s what happens when you spend time with your cattle.”
The Matunga steers were bought by Graeme Osborn.
Lincoln McKinlay of LINC’D in South East Queensland judged Merilyn and Russell Pendergast’s steers as best presented pen, noting their uniformity.
“They’re really nice steers to put on feed,” he said.
“They’re well marked and show good constitution.”
The Pendergasts said the calves were 10-12 months and by Mawarra and Sugarloaf bulls.
Pat Cleary, Elders Moss Vale, bought those steers for $1590/head as well as Kelvin and Jackie Pendergast’s steers at the same money.
Aleshia Sievers sold Charolais steers and heifers, the steers making $1290 and the heifers $1250.
“They’re crackers,” Aleshia said.
“I bought their mothers here in 2017.
“I’ll wait for the season to get better before I get any more.”
The last few pens of small heifers for the day made from $510 through to $690.
Ensay
More rain around the Ensay region meant more bloom in the offering, with a total yarding of 1186 head, which averaged $1191, and took just 45 minutes to sell.
Elders Bairnsdale selling agent, Morgan Davies was at his 20th anniversary for Mountain Calf Sales and told the crowd ‘Hats off to the vendors for another run of magnificent cattle’.
The 760 steers averaged $1303/head while 426 heifers averaged $990/head, with Evan and Dot Newcomen selling the top-priced steers and heifers, the former making $1650/head and the latter $1290/head.
Reece Newcomen sold 187 mixed-sex calves, saying he had received good rain in January and February, but the country was drying out.
“From what I see there’s not much feed between here and a long way,” he said.
Flynn finisher, Wade Hodgson, bought a big run of Bluey Commins’ cattle, having first bought his cattle 15 years ago.
In total he picked up about 280 heifers and 330 steers at the sales.
“We buy certain types so we can hit the middle of the grid,” he said.
“And we want cattle that will finish in winter.”
Post-sale Morgan Davies said the Ensay producers had an ‘awkward spring’ but the cattle had certainly hardened up thanks to the summer rain.
He said steers sold from $4-$4.50/kg while heifers made $3.50-$4.
“The difference between the blacks is the weight,” he said.
“The Herefords are significantly heavier and older, and our repeat buyers go for certain types of cattle.
“They tell us the prices, the volume buyers really stepped into the void.
“It’s been a really satisfying result, a bit dearer than I thought it would be.”
Omeo Herefords
The top steers at Omeo made $1980, offered by Tania Crisp, while the top-priced heifers were sold by Peter and Christine Faithfull for $1450/head.
The total yarding of 1308 head averaged $1257.
Herefords Australia CEO, Alastair James, at his first Mountain Calf Sales was impressed with the lineup.
After the first sale he said while there may have been a price differential in the past between Herefords and Angus, it was proving to be a myth if “you compare apples with apples”.
“Demand for Herefords is strong on the back of excellent feed conversion, temperament and weight for age, making them the more sustainable choice,” Mr James said.
