CALF buyers upped the ante for well-bred Hereford and European-cross steers at Hamilton in Victoria's Western District.
The sale was judged to be dearer than the opening black sales held earlier in the week, with Herefords topping at $766 and Charolais-cross steers at $759.
The healthy prices were courtesy of southern restockers being prepared to pay good cents per kilogram money for heavy calves that weighed up to 408kg, with many of the top lots going to repeat buyers.
An example of this was the noted Orana Hereford calves, bred by the Malseed family, which averaged more than $700 a head.
Their top pen of 26 head, average weight 387kg, sold for 198c/kg, while their second run of 85 calves, average weight 346kg, sold for 205c. Both lots sold to Penshurst bullock finisher Tim Hutton.
Most of the heavy calves (300kg plus) sold from 185c to 195c/kg after receiving healthy competition from both local restockers and feedlots.
Lighter calves made similar money, with northern agents from Gunnedah and Tamworth active on these. Some indicator sales in this range included 195c for 34 Herefords that weighed 214kg ($417), while 14 at 189c for 242kg ($457).
Key buyers included Swift & Co, buying calves to feedlot, agents from Gippsland and the NSW areas of Gunnedah, Walcha and Tamworth.
This story was first published on WeeklyTimesNow on January 7.
