SIMMENTAL breeders were among lucky vendors at recent southern Australian weaner sales, where some of the best prices on record were achieved.
The sales peaked at $2.94 a kilogram for Angus weaner heifers from Nangana Pastoral, Grassdale, Vic, a fortnight ago.
One of the top Simmental performers was Roma, John and Geoff McErvale, Cadell, Branxholme, Vic, who won the best presented pen at the Hamilton sale in early January for a pen of 28 red steers, weighing 358kg, which made $2.35/kg.
But for many in the South East, holding out for high January sale prices was not an option, with feed and pasture in short supply after rain shut off in mid-2014.
Graham Johnson, LS Johnson & Son, Naracoorte and Robe, sold calves in November and December (normally December-January) - the earliest he can remember.
"Because of the poor season we had to bring it forward," he said.
"Prices weren't as good then as the January sales, but we were still pretty happy."
The Johnsons sold 400 steers and 200 heifers across two sales at Naracoorte, with Simmental-Hereford-Angus calves, 270-330kg, sold in November and Simmental-Hereford calves, 270-370kg, sold in December.
They would normally sell calves at 300-370kg in December, and 400-420kg calves in January.
"We had to wean early, which was our shearing time, which wasn't ideal," Mr Johnson said.
The November calves were weaned onto fresh pasture paddocks three to four weeks prior to the sale, while December calves had to be weaned onto irrigated pastures because of the lack of feed.
The November eight-month-old steers sold between $1.90/kg-$2.10/kg, averaging $650, and the December calves sold 5c/kg-10c/kg more, to $805, averaging $715.
Mr Johnson said he liked using the "beefy" Simmental breed, preferring Woonallee and Waterfront bulls.
"Herefords are a good animal, they just don't have the size," he said. "While Simmentals have the size, they can become very leggy, so if you cross them you get the best of both, plus they have good mothering abilities and plenty of milk."
Mr Johnson said the "legginess" had been bred out of the Simmentals over the past few decades, which meant his calves were attractive to bullock finishers.
"A lot of my Simmental steers go to bullock buyers from Millicent, Mount Gambier, and south of us, who grow them out to 650kg-700kg," he said.
Chris Bateman, Furner, was also forced to sell his calves early, in mid-December.
He sold 61 heifers (eight-nine-month Simmental-Angus-Poll Hereford) at Naracoorte, averaging $1.86/kg.
"It was the best prices we have had for a couple of years," he said. "I just wish we had more to sell now. I don't normally have that many excess heifers, but I had a lot higher heifer percentage this year, and a shortage of feed."
The Simmental weaners averaged 320kg, and the Angus 300kg. The calves had been yard-weaned and then put onto good pasture paddocks (clover/ryegrass) five weeks prior to selling.