Shorthorn/Hereford cross weaner heifers made the top money of $1000/head at the 72nd annual Mountain Weaner Calf Sales in Victoria this week.

Selling agents Elders offered 5250 steers and 3750 heifers at Omeo, Benambra and Ensay over three days.

David Hill, livestock manager for Elders based at Omeo, said although the market was cheaper than last year, this year's sales saw healthy trading with good buying strength.

“Last year’s result was exceptional and topped at $1130, but prices achieved this year were consistent and held to the trends similar to those recorded at other recent sales.” he said.

“The majority of the cattle sold locally, with some smaller lines heading to the Riverina, NSW, and into south-eastern South Australia. 

This year the sale was held a month later, as it was postponed from early March due to the wet weather.

In the end it was the famed roan mountain heifers (white Shorthorn X Herefords) that stole the show at Omeo selling to $1000 a head for a pen of 10 offered by the Faithfull family, Omeo.  The draft had an average weight of 340kg and the price equated to 294c/kg.

The Faithfull family also offered a pen of Herefords that made $900, and sold the top price steers at $860.

At Benambra sale, 18-month-old Hereford steers offered by Connley family featured by selling for $980/head, equating to 196c/kg.

Hereford heifers topped at $725 on account of the Pendergast family, who also sold a line Hereford weaner steers which made $810 to Westside Meats.

The top pen of Angus steers at the Omeo black sale on Tuesday made $845 on account of the Crisp family, while the Wyatt family sold heifers to $775.

At the Ensay sale local vendors Phil and Kerry Geehman, topped the sale with $935 for a pen of 20 Hereford X Shorthorn steers to a Pakenham buyer.

Barry and Topsy Newcomen sold 22 Hereford steers in the 440kg weight average selling to $920 or 209c/kg selling to Arthur Angliss of Romsey, Vic, who snapped up the first four pens paying an average $890 for 101 head.

Mr Angliss has been buying Newcomen cattle for 15 years and was looking for good quality EU steers for the bullock market.

"The EU is a good market to be in, there is a premium but you have to buy good cattle to meet the requirements," he said.

Barry and Topsy Newcomen’s females sold to $860 selling to buyers from Gippsland.
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Omeo Black sale

Yarded  3278 av $649.97

Heifers av  $621.60 Top  P Wyatt $775

Steers av $673.96 Top RJ & AJ Crisp $845

Benambra Sale

Yarded 1905 av $682.42

Heifers av  $590.74 Top  RLJ & MF Pendergast $725

Steers  av $723.86 Top WC & PM Connley $980

 

Ensay Sale

Yarded 1779 av $718.16            

Heifers av $ 684.07 Top EO & DI Newcomen $890

Steers av $739.20 Top Phil Geehman $935

 

Omeo Hereford sale

Yarded 1644 av $707.62            

Heifers av $714.93 Top PC & CG Faithfull  $1000

Steers av  $703.52 Top PC & CG Faithfull $860