LAST year's prices were obliterated as the season's weaner sales kicked off at the Johnson family's Amherst, Wittalocka and Moville properties at Willalooka on Thursday.
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The sales attracted 53 registered buyers from as far away as the Central West and Central Tablelands of NSW and Vic's Wodonga, Leongatha, Bendigo, Yarra Valley and Gippsland regions. There were also plenty of local graziers from the Lower South East, with all buyers looking to secure selections from the large lines of 5-month-old to 7mo Angus, Angus-Black Simmental and Angus-Limousin weaners on offer.
Heavier steers, weighing 320 kilograms to 350kg, made from $3.10-$3.46/kg, steers 250-320kg made $3.15-$3.56/kg and lighter types less than 250kg made $3.15-$3.55/kg.
Heifers were also in demand, selling from $2.90-$3.50/kg, and with no bargains to be found, many buyers went home empty-handed, including one buyer looking to fill a live-shipping order.
The annual blue ribbon feature sale was brought forward a week from last year - the result of another dry finish and below average winter and spring rainfall.
Across the three properties, 1887 steers sold at an average of $924, with 813 heifers averaging $827. This compared to 2014 results of 1958 steers, av $625, and 463 heifers, av $535.
Ian and Louise Johnson received the sale's top price of $1145 or $3.48/kg for Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System-accredited Lancaster Black Simmental, Coolana and Sheraco-blood Angus steers, 329kg, at their Moville property, selling to Everitt, Seeley & Bennetts, Cranbourne, Vic.
The Johnsons offered 415 European Union and PCAS-accredited steers from their Wittalocka property, topping at $1110, av $888, while the Moville heifer draft sold to $1010, av $833.
Amherst PCAS steers, 343kg, made to $1120 or $3.26/kg, av $1015.
The top price for heifers was $1040 or $3.56/kg, paid by Spence Dix & Co a/c SM&NK Mudge, Mallala, for 46 of the Johnson family's EU and PCAS Angus heifers, Wittalocka and Stoney Point-blood, av 292kg.
Last year's volume buyer, Chay & Merrett's Owen Merrett, Millicent, had a reduced order this year, but still ended the day with a tally of 381, including 109 steers, av $1082, from the top end of the Johnsons' Amherst offering and steers from the top draft off their Wittalocka property, av $1066.
Other volume buyers were Wardle & Co, Crystal Brook, with 226, including five Angus-Mandayen Limousin steers, 250kg and 242kg, at $890 or $3.56/kg and $3.67/kg respectively.
Gippsland's Fob Livestock a/c Covino Farms, Sale, Vic, bought 539, paying to a top of $990 for 284 Angus heifers - the majority of the Moville heifer draft - to fatten on their Gippsland property, having had an exceptional season this year.
Guest vendors Ray, Eileen and Nick Clark, Bergan Park, Keith, offered the first pen in the Amherst sale, selling 27 Stoney Point and Roseleigh-blood Angus steers, 352kg, for an equal top of $1120 or $3.18/kg, to regular sale supporter Chris Stanley Livestock, Woori Yallock, Vic.
The Clark family sold 56 steers, av $1042.50, and 58 heifers to a top of $940, av $895.
Wayne and Liz Jackson, Yardookra, Willalooka, sold 189 PCAS Angus steers, Coolana and Stoney Point-blood, to $1030, av $925, with their heifers topping at $875, av $819.
Russell and Marnie Kemp, RMK Pastoral, Willalooka, offered 157 PCAS steers, which sold to $985, av $895, and 168 heifers to $925, av $790.
Anthony and Tanya Allen, Rockalen Pastoral Co, Willalooka, sold 175 Mandayen Limousin-Angus steers to $950 or $2.93/kg, av $901.
Auctioneer and SDC director Jono Spence said the record-breaking sale was a far cry from 2006, when the season was last this tight, adding that this year's high prices had partially diluted his clients' disappointment with the season.
He said cattle were magnificently presented and the most even draft offered despite the conditions, recalling many comments from buyers who couldn't believe the lack of feed in the paddocks.
