THE state’s stud beef breeders are bracing for a more challenging selling season than 2018, with more bulls on offer and a smaller cattle herd.
Last year pastoral interest was diminished, but this year it may be even more subdued.
Stock Journal’s Beef Week kicks off tomorrow in the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.
Across the four-days, 67 studs will open their gates to showcase their herds.
This leads into a busy February selling period where agents are tipping clearance rates may suffer but averages should remain close to 2018.
Landmark SA studstock manager Gordon Wood expects auction pass-in rates may be 10 per cent to 15pc, although individual studs’ results could depend on how much of their clientele are from northern areas.
“Some areas are OK south of Alice Springs but the rest is pretty tight. Far West NSW around Broken Hill is very ordinary and I can’t see any real interest coming from Wentworth, NSW, and Mildura, Vic,” he said.
Mr Wood says there may be a slight fall in average but nothing major, with Australia’s beef cattle industry remaining profitable, particularly those producers fortunate to have feed.
“In some years pastoral orders start almost every bull so the next bid is $500 or $1000 up, but that buying pressure might be missing on the bottom end,” he said.
“The South East (season) is very good so it could be a case of local orders counteracting the other buyers.”
Mr Wood says this will be the year to “trade up”.
“Even four- to five-year-old bulls, if you are not semen testing, they can be a bit of gamble so why not trade to younger bulls with latest genetics and improved performance data for a minimal changeover?” he said.
Elders SA studstock manager Tony Wetherall also expects limited demand from northern areas but was still hopeful of 80-100pc clearance rates in many sales.
“Anyone that is relying on northern inquiry to put a base in their sales, it is not going to be there at this point in time,” he said.
Mr Wetherall says studs across all breeds have lifted the standard and every year the genetics are becoming more predictable with the figures matching the phenotype of cattle.
“Commercial producers looking to buy bulls will spend good money because of the quality and at the same time they know when things improve they have got to have bulls to improve their herds,” he said.
Yerwal Estate returns to on-farm Simmental sale
YERWAL Estate stud at Lucindale has a busy time ahead with its Stock Journal Beef Week open day and two on-property bull sales all being held within a week.
Stud principals Regan and Karen Burow have grown their Simmental and Angus herds and have a number of quality bulls to offer, but they are realistic clearance rates could drop in such a dry season.
“We have been lucky with our season but you don’t have to go far north, within 200 kilometres, and it changes,” he said.
But he remains hopeful averages will remain similar to 2018.
“The cattle job is OK, without being outstanding,” Mr Burow said.
“It is crying out for general rains but as soon as there are widespread falls it (the market) should go ahead in leaps and bounds.”
After four years in a multi-vendor sale, the Burows have switched back to selling their Simmental bulls on-farm with 26 traditional, red and black Simmental bulls and one genetic package on offer next Wednesday, February 6.
This includes progeny of $160,000 Australian record-price Simmental bull Woonallee Los Angeles.
“We have got our Simmental numbers back to a level it would be very difficult to offer them off-farm and it also enables us to offer a few extra things to our clients, such as free freight as far afield as southern Qld,” Mr Burow said.
Also part of the Simmental sale will be some lots from guest vendor and sister stud Mount Mooney, Tintinara.
The following Monday, Yerwal Estate will offer 51 Angus bulls.
Mr Burow says they have a strong emphasis on structural soundness and fertility in their cattle to ensure their clients get longevity in their herds.
“We are not as focused on a high sale average as long as we are happy with the product and know the bulls are going out and producing long-term,” he said.
