BUYERS again responded to a top quality offering of steers and heifers in the prime beef steer and heifer sale held as part of the Commonwealth Bank Cattle Expo at last week’s Make Smoking History Wagin Woolorama by posting a 100 per cent clearance of the 18 animals on offer.
In the sale, conducted for the first time by S & C Livestock, the 18 steers and heifers sold to a top of $2400 and averaged $1644.
This was a jump on last year where 21 steers and heifers were sold under the hammer to a $1610 average.
All involved were happy with the result, with local buyers mixing it with butchers and processors from across the State to ensure all animals sold to good values on the day.
The top price on the day was $2400 paid for a steer that was donated by several parties as a charity steer with the proceeds of its sale to go to Pancare, which is a national organisation fighting pancreatic cancer.
S & C Livestock, Sebastian Butchers and the Dowling family were all involved in the donation of the steer, which was a Hereford-Murray Grey that was exhibited in the heavyweight section of the competition.
The 486kg steer placed second in the heavyweight section and its per head price represented a value of 494 cents a kilogram.
It was bought by Anthony Fels, Kojonup, who wasn’t intending to buy at the sale but dropped by to have a look at proceedings.
“When I heard that proceeds of the sale were to go to Pancare I was interested in supporting the charity,” Mr Fels said.
“I have bought cattle at the Perth Royal Show trade cattle auctions in the past and it is a cheap way to get good quality prime beef.
“I am delighted to support Pancare as I was diagnosed with pancreatitis recently and while this is not as devastating as pancreatic cancer is, it definitely increased my awareness of that cancer.”
The second top price of the sale was $2100, which was paid on two occasions.
The first buyer to outlay this amount was Avon Valley Meats, when Rodney Galati, Brunswick, bid successfully on the grand champion steer of the show on behalf of the processor.
The steer, which was offered by John Barber and Lone Chorley, Manjimup, was also the champion mediumweight animal of the show and was a Limousin that weighed in at 472kg, representing a price of 445c/kg.
Mr Galati said Avon Valley Meats owner Mark Grant was a strong supporter of country shows and steer competitions and was always happy to buy at the show sales.
Also paying $2100 for the champion heavyweight steer was long-time sale supporter Wayne Byrne, Shearforce, Katanning.
Mr Byrne said he and two others usually bought the steers together as it was a good way to buy top quality beef.
“With three of us sharing the cost it is a good way to get prime beef and all these animals have been well looked after and are always top quality,” he said.
His animal was a black Murray Grey offered by Alastair and Jenny Murray, Albany and at 494kg equated to 425c/kg.
Other high prices in the offering included $1800.
This was paid twice, firstly in the mediumweight section by MJ Shearing for a 470kg red steer exhibited by Willowbank.
At $1800 this represented a price of 383c/kg.
The other buyer to pay $1800 was Swansea Street Meats, Welshpool, which picked up an Angus heavyweight steer that weighed in at 538kg (334c/kg).
This steer was exhibited by the WA College of Agriculture, Narrogin’s, Collegian Angus stud.
Swansea Street Meats was again a good supporter of the sale, taking four animals in total.
It also paid $1500 for a lightweight Murray Grey steer that weighed in at 410kg and was exhibited by the Murray family, Albany.
The champion lightweight steer was bought by Sebastian Butchers for $1550.
The Murray Grey steer weighed in at 394kg (393c/kg) and was exhibited by John Barber and Lone Chorley.
Ryans Quality Meats also made an impact a the sale taking three in total.
It paid to a top of $1500 for a lightweight Angus-Limousin steer that weighed in at 428kg and was exhibited by J Galati.
Kel Patterson, Frank Ganzer & Co, Wagin, always grabs a couple of animals at the sale and was back again to take two, paying to a top of $1650.
This was for an Angus-Limousin steer that weighed 462kg (357c/kg) and was exhibited by J Galati.
Halanson Farms, Wagin, bid to $1700 or 386c/kg for a 440kg mediumweight steer Murray Grey-Limousin steer exhibited by R Galati, Brunswick, while V&V Walsh went to $1750 for an Angus-Limousin steer exhibited by J Galati.
At 464kg this represented a price of 377c/kg.
S & C Livestock auctioneer Cameron Petricevich said it was a really strong sale and a good 30 cents or more up on the current market value.
“The heavy cattle sold well and the charity steer topping the sale was a good result,” Mr Petricevich said.
“It was good to again see locals buying at the sale as well as a number of butchers and two processors in attendance and again offering great support to this event.”