WODONGA jump started the post-festive calf-selling season with a solid result and steers selling to $810.

Selling agents Brian Unthank Rodwell, Paul and Scollard, Kindelan Livestock and Peter Ruaro Livestock yarded 4200 grown steers, steer and heifer weaners for the annual blue ribbon weaner sale on Friday.

  • Click on the link to the right to see more pictures of the action at the Wodonga sale.

Backgrounders, lot feeders, processors and producers attended from Bathurst, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, Corowa, Queanbeyan, Forbes, Corryong, Wangaratta and Albury-Wodonga.

The buyers were able to choose from an outstanding run of grown steers weighing over 350kg, wth the Hereford offering topping at $805 and selling down to $635, or 151-192c/kg.

The Angus pens were equal to pre-Christmas rates, selling for $645-$810 or 173-190c/kg.

Black baldy grown steers averaged $690 or 174c/kg.

The Moyle family, of Tallangatta, Victoria, topped the steer offering with a pen of 33 Angus, aged 15-16 months and weighing 468kg, selling for $810.

On a cents per kilogram basis, Mulgoa Pastoral, Holbrook, topped the market with 26 Angus steer weaners weighing 202kg and selling for 215c/kg.

In the heavy weaner steer portion of 250-350kg, the Angus pens were market toppers on 161-210c/kg, or $520-$688.

The Hereford steers sold for 176-203c/kg or $475-$645 and black baldies were at equal rates of 180-191c/kg or $560-$622.

There was only a small selection of lightweight weaners with weights dislayed on pen cards, and they sold from 204 to a top of 215c/kg, or 10-15c/kg cheaper than pre-Christmas sales.

On a dollars per head, they ranged from $438 to $500.

In the crossbred steer pens, prices for Simmental, Limousin and Murray Grey crosses were $450-$705 or 166-188c/kg.

Demand was solid for the grown heifers (over 350kg liveweight), with prices at 160-200c/kg or $596 to $720 for the better bred lines.

The demand continued for the yearling heifers (300-350kg) with Angus pens selling for $475-$580, or 164-167c/kg, the Herefords for $425-$574, or 154-188c/kg.

Black baldy heifers sold for $522-$580 or 167-173c/kg and the weaner heifers (under 300kg) generally sold for $415-$500 or 15c/kg dearer than pre-Christmas sales at 159-182c/kg.

This story was first published on WeeklyTimesNow on Friday, January 2.