Pregnancy tested in calf heifers (Angus) made to $2700 and cows with calves at foot to $3150 at Euroa’s annual female cattle sale on Wednesday.
In a full penning of 2117 head, the market returned better than expected values especially for a penning of almost 1200 unjoined weaner heifers that mostly returned values in the $1100 to $1400 per head range.
The market was well supported by local buying that saw only minimal lots travelled outside a radius of 80-100 kilometres of the northeast saleyards.
The market top of the PTIC heifer lines was achieved by renowned Euroa-district Angus breeders Michael and Olga Hill, Ruffy. Their Connamarra blood and bred heifers, 595kg - joined to Connamarra bulls from 25 May to 31 July- were sold to Rodwells Melbourne while most other PTIC heifer sales made $2200-$2500.
A second yard of Connamarra Angus heifers, which offered possible APR registration, made $2575 while Broadford backgrounder, Reedy Creek Estate sold the opening yard of the sale – a pen of 23 Angus, 682kg, PTIC to low birthweight Angus bulls, at $2475.
Sales of older breeding cows, both depastured and PTIC, met with solid inquiry as most made from $1700 and to a top of $2575 a head. These sales included the dispersal of two local district herds, with the best priced – a yard of 10 Angus second-calvers, Hazeldean and Ardrossan-blood, sold by account of Peppertrees.
A yarding of almost 300 calved females was not chocked with quality however best money ($3150) was shared by G&B Weaton – a yard of rejoined Angus 2nd-calvers, with 3-4 month-old Angus calves – and McBurney Farms who also sold 2nd-calf Angus cows with 4-5 month-old Angus calves at foot.
The addition of several processor-feeder orders added further depth to the demand for unjoined heifer sales.
Competing steadily against the eager restocker inquiry all aspects of the unjoined heifer market became well supported as heavier weights realized 300-330c/kg, and light heifers made to 420-cents per kg, to average 363c.
Due to the outstanding season, the offering of weaner heifers provided plenty of weight and as a consequence few light weights were penned and seldom were prices allowed to slip below $1100 a head on the day.
