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In a yarding of 4,715 head, NSW and Queensland backgrounders provided major buying competition, accounting for half of the yarding. The overall quality of the yarding was strongly influenced by the Elders annual Simmental cross feature drafts of the Baker family’s Woonallee weaner steers; the Johnson family’s Ross Plains weaner steers and heifers; and the McKay family’s Egremont weaner steers. Reflecting the benefit of a much better late spring in 2007 and a reversion to the normal January sale date, many of these young cattle were 30 to 40 kg liveweight heavier than the previous year, when the very poor season saw these weaners offered in December. The downside of this was that any steers falling in the 380 to 400 kg range were outside of the preferred buying weights for most backgrounders; thus the demand relied mainly on direct slaughter buyers or feeders. While northern backgrounders accounted for a bulk of the buying, it was T & R Pastoral, Murray Bridge who paid the $800 top price for the top pen of Woonallee steers. This pen of 11 Simmental /Hereford cross steers averaged a fantastic 443kg/head. In total, the Bakers sold 236 weaner steers of this cross and averaged $649/head. They also offered 87 Angus/Simmental/Hereford cross steers from their maiden females and these sold to the sale’s second top price of $725/head for the top pen of 18 head; these weighing an average of 423kg and being purchased by the Charlton Feedlot. Woonallee’s 87 Angus cross steers averaged a very impressive $662.76/head. Overall the Woonallee draft of 323 8-10 month old steers averaged 377 kg liveweight and $652/head; equating to 172.86 cents/kg. They were not only a credit to the Baker family, but also a wonderful endorsement of the production and economic benefits that can be achieved with Simmental infusions into commercial breeding operations. Always pushing the Baker family for price and/or top price on an annual basis is the Johnsons’ draft from their Ross Plains property. Their top pen of Simmental/Hereford cross weaner steers weighed in at $437 kg and sold for a credible $685/head to Sinclair Meat. The Johnsons’ 141 steers averaged $646 or 167 cents/kg. They also offered heifers and their top pen of 17 Simmental/Hereford cross heifers sold for $540/head to Wardle & Co, Wudinna, SA; this being the highest heifer price in the sale. Egremont sold 137 weaner steers that were either Simmental x Hereford or Angus x Simmental/Hereford crosses. These also made an impressive display and sold to $645 and averaged $630/head. EU accredited steers continued to attract a 10 to 15 cent premium and of the 517 of these offered in the overall sale, 59% stayed in the system; giving a pointer to this being something more producers should consider.
Looking over the impressive run of Woonallee’s Simmental x Hereford weaner steers, that saw 236 of this cross average $649/head at Naracoorte on January 17th.
Looking over the equally impressive run of Woonallee Angus x Simmental/Hereford cross weaner steers at Naracoorte on January 17th. These 87 steers were out of the Baker family’s maiden females and sold to the sale’s second top price of $725/head and average $662.76/head.
Graham & Brian Johnson and employee Matthew Thorpe, Ross Plains, Greenways with their annual feature draft of Simmental-Hereford and Simmental-Hereford-Angus steers and heifers. Their 141 steers topped at $685 for a pen weighing 437 kilograms and averaged $646, well up on their $530 average in 2007. Ross Plains also secured top heifer price honours with a pen at $540. Thanks to Ian Turner from Superior Selections for producing this article - 0409 729 251
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