Supplied: RLX
NUMBERS for the January weaner sales in the south are expected to be close to previous years offerings, despite the drought forcing cattle out of Victoria and southern New South Wales earlier in the year.
Livestock agents have told Beef Central a lot of producers chose to feed cows and calves through autumn and winter to retain cattle for these sales and were rewarded with a great spring and start to summer.
“Numbers will be similar as will weights because these weaners were really well looked after and have had a great finish. The weaners I have seen have plenty of weight on them,” Brett Shea, Elders Albury Livestock Manager said.
Livestock agent, Justin Keane, Director at Corcoran Parker said producers have worked extremely hard to retain their Angus cattle for the January sales, ensuring they were well fed when it was tough.
“There will be less coloured cattle, but that is also a result of people shifting to black cattle, so we have been selling less colours each year,” he said.
One market commentator said in an effort to keep numbers up for the weaner sales some producers might market all of their weaners rather than just the lead of them, as is traditionally done.
Anna Adams from Regional Livestock Exchanges said numbers at the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange (NVLX) sales were expected to be slightly down from 2025’s record of 18,500 head across the five sale days at Barnawartha.
Prices expected to remain solid with strong local competition
Given the destocking that took place in the south earlier in the year, cattle are expected to be absorbed in the south this year.
Peter Homan, National Livestock Manager with Elders, predicts prices will be solid against the current market with strong competition expected from local areas.
“I don’t see prices galloping ahead, but I certainly don’t see them going backwards. I think everyone would be happy to see current prices reflected in the weaner sales,” he said.
“Spring was amazing for the western districts of Vic and southeast SA, so people are cutting two years of hay and silage. I have never seen so much feed being produced – so they are filling up their sheds with a couple of years of feed in a lot of cases which is fantastic.
“As a result, there will be string competition from local areas and big parts of NSW. For northern buyers’ freight will play a big part given store cattle are making the same across the eastern seaboard, so they may as well buy them close to home.”
More weaned cattle to hit the market
All industry participants emphasized the importance of weaning cattle, stressing unweaned calves have previously received severe discounts.
“In January there will be a lot of weaned cattle because they had to get them off cows early and we have seen the market decide over the last few years that weaned cattle are preferred by buyers,” said Justin Keane.
Peter Homan reiterated the importance of weaning as he said more buyers bypass the unweaned cattle each year.
“Pulling calves off mum for two days is not weaning, but we are seeing more people starting that journey weeks beforehand and doing a good job. Cattle are better to handle, they aren’t stressed and they perform a lot better for the buyers when they are properly weaned,” Mr Homan said.
Market needs to encourage pre-vaccination
The other trend expected at the January weaner sales is more interest from buyers in pre-vaccinated cattle for respiratory diseases.
“To date there hasn’t been a premium paid for pre-vaccinated cattle but I think there should be to incentivise more producers who are selling to backgrounders and lotfeeders,” Mr Homan said.
Southern Weaner sales calendar
Here is a list of the major southern weaner sales in January and the expected numbers:
Monday 5 Jan
NVLX Barnawartha Blue Ribbon Grown & Weaner Sale (1000)
Tuesday 6 Jan
NVLX Barnawartha Angus Weaner Sale (6500)
Wangaratta Feature Angus Cattle (5000)
Colac Birregurra Weaner Steer Sale (1800)
Wednesday 7 Jan
NVLX Barnawatha – Premier Angus Grown & Weaner Sale (4000)
Colac Birregurra Weaner Heifer Sale (1400)
Yea Weaner Sale (3500)
Thursday 8 Jan
NVLX Barnawatha – All Breeds Premier Hereford, Euros and Other Breeds Grown & Weaner Sale (2200)
Naracoorte Weaner Sale (Steers – 5000 across two days)
Wangaratta All Breeds Sale (2000)
Friday 9 Jan
NVLX Barnawatha – Premier Hereford, Euros & Other Breeds Grown & Weaner Sale (3500)
Naracoorte Weaner Steer Sale
Yea Weaner Sale (3500)
Monday 12 Jan
Hamilton Angus Weaner Sale (4600)
Tuesday 13 Jan
Hamilton All Breed Weaner Steer Sale (3500)
Casterton Angus Steer Weaner Sale (2400)
Wednesday 14 Jan
Hamilton Hereford Steers and Mixed Sex Euros (2500)
Casterton Hereford Steer Weaner Sale (1000)
Thursday 15 Jan
WVLX Mortlake – Feature Weaner Sale (8000)
Hamilton All Breed Weaner Heifer Sale (2500)
Naracoorte Weaner Heifer Sale (3000 across the two days)
Friday 16 Jan
Hamilton All Breed Heifers Sale (3500)
Naracoorte Female Cattle Sale
Yea Blue Ribbon Weaner Sale (3500)
Casterton Weaner Heifer Sale (2200)
Thursday 22 Jan
Naracoorte Weaner Steer Sale (5000 across the two days)
Friday 23 Jan
Naracoorte Weaner Heifer Sale