A small yarding of slightly more than 400 head of cattle were yarded at the Elders Boyanup store cattle sale last week.
With subdued potential buying support, the smaller yarding was probably fortuitous for the success of the sale.
Heavy beef and beef cross steers saw heavier types sell extremely well to top at $1554, selling between 202-242c/kg.
These were back in liveweight values, but up about $150 per head gross compared with the most recent couple of sales.
SALE SUMMARY
- Beef steers: 202-242c/kg ($680-$1554)
- Friesian steers: 110-186c/kg ($300-$997)
- Friesian poddies: $240-$350
- Cows and calves: $800-$1200
- Mated heifers: $900
Heavier Friesian steers also enjoyed renewed interest and values when reaching $997 and 186c/kg compared with $929 and 152c/kg recently.
Friesian poddies also attracted more competition to sell to $350 by appraisal to be very close to equal.
The only sour note on the day was the low values paid for first cross cows and calves, with these being very good buying for their weight and quality.
A pen of mated heifers made $900 with these not purchased for breeding duties.
The first pen of beef steers offered, eight Angus weighing 670kg from
TM Hynes, set the top price early when going to Elders Margaret River for $1554 and 232c/kg.
Seven in the next pen went to the same buyer for $1554 as well.
The next pen of eight from the Hynes offering made the top of 242c/kg with the 608kg steers returning $1471 when bought by Rodney Galati, Galati Family Trust (GFT), Brunswick, for one of his many orders.
Six steers sold by Lang & Jackson weighing 584kg cost $1402 at 240c/kg, with the next pen from A & S Derums making $1282 when the 557kg steers sold at 230c/kg, all going on the truck for GFT.
Jacques Martinson, Elders, Busselton, was the first agent to purchase, starting with five Simmental steers sold by TM Hynes weighing 502kg that sold for $1135 and 226c/kg.
Mr Martinson later paid $990 for a single steer from A & S Derums weighing 495kg.
The first pen of Friesian steers offered also made top price when the six in the pen weighing 600kg sold at 166c/kg and $997 going to GFT.
Alex Tunstill, Elders, Capel, bought the first pen of steers sold by Hayes Farms when the 503kg steers sold for $925 and 184c/kg.
Alex Roberts, Elders, Boyanup, upped the ante by snapping up the next five pens for his client, paying to the top of 186c/kg for eight weighing 516kg returning $960 to vendor J Vegar & Co, Bridgetown.
Another seven from this vendor went on the load costing $942 and 172c/kg.
Craig Martin, Elders, Brunswick/Collie, took the last pen of these steers bidding $503 for the eight weighing 457kg.
Mr Martinson chipped away for most of the sale to collate lines of cattle for his clients, including 11 sold by PD Milner when bought for a Busselton client at $539.
On the lighter weight steers, Mr Roberts secured several pens for Kanandah station, Nullarbor, which will be a welcome sight for these cattle after the dusty dry South West conditions.
Friesian poddies continued their recent resurgence when topping at $350 when Mr Martinson paid this for five sold account DE & CP Payne.
Terry Tarbotton, Elders, Nannup, was the dominant buyer in this section, paying $330 for 14 sold by Adams & Lee, as well $340 for another 14 and 17 at $355 with these sold account Negus Enterprises, Tutunup.
Buyers missed a great opportunity to buy proven and productive cows and calves with the dispersal of Bruce and Daphne Marsh's, Alexandra Bridge, herd after the sale of their property.
The Marshs have been regular sellers of top quality milk calves to Woolworths for many years.
They selected quality Hereford, Charolais and Murray Grey bulls and selectively mated them to their Angus, Hereford and Charolais-Friesian cross cows.
The first seven cows and calves sold for $1200, bought by Mr Roberts for his client.
Four more pens of Angus and Hereford-Friesian cross cows sold from $800-$1000, all bought for Quilista Trust by Allen Bentham.
Sylvania Farms, Donnybrook, sold four Murray Grey units to Parumba Plains at $950 while two Charolais cross cows from the Marsh offering went to Quilista Trust for $1100.
Adrastea Park, Donnybrook, sold a line of five Angus cross heifers to GFT for $900 to finish the sale.
WHAT THE AGENT SAID
Elders auctioneer and Donnybrook representative Pearce Watling said there was some good results in the smaller yarding.
"Heavier better type Friesian steers around 480-600kg were up 20-30c/kg with a bit of confidence these cattle can be finished by the end of the year," Mr Watling said.
"Medium weights presented good buying opportunities and poddies met stronger grazier competition on recent sales."
