Mt Barker females to new record
"Sizzling" would be the best way to describe last week's special female cattle sale at the Mt Barker Regional Saleyards.
The sale average price reached a record of $1584/head for 892 offered as the temperature soared to 39.2, but buyers remained optimistic that higher cattle values are here to stay.
Landmark's annual Blue Ribbon sale was dominated mostly by the popular Angus breed, with mated heifer prices reaching $2060/head for a pen of 11 Angus offered by Warren Forbes, of Dundeal Holdings, Narrikup, and bought by Barry Panizza, who runs cattle on leased properties from Kalgan to Torbay Bay.
Mr Forbes, who regularly fills the top Blue Ribbon pens with quality Angus heifers, said his expectations were met with a solid result.
After seeing 12 pens, totalling 114 head of Dundeal Holdings PTIC heifers selling for an average price of $1905, Mr Forbes said he had never seen such high prices before.
"It is a wonderful thing with the female cattle market so very strong with values never before seen, but the question remains, are these prices sustainable?" he said.
Mr Forbes said part of his offering included a first-time selection of 42 head of Coonamble blood in which a pen of 11 topped the overall heifer portion of the sale.
Mr Panizza, who bought 122 Angus heifers for an average price of $1954/head, said prices reflected the high demand for Angus cattle.
Mr Panizza bought eight pens (83 head) of Dundeal heifers and four pens (39) of heifers offered by KT & ET Ridgway.
The top price of the sale belonged to a pen of eight five-year-old Angus cows, offered by regular vendors KT & ET Ridgway, which sold to new buyer Stuart Miller of Kinjarling Downs, Donnybrook.
Cattle advisor Paul Torrisi, buying on behalf of Kinjarling Downs, said his client was establishing a new herd with an emphasis on breeding quality Angus cattle.
New to the sale was Landmark Waroona agent Richard Pollock, who bought on behalf of three first time Blue Ribbon buyers.
"These producers located in Waroona, Pinjarra and Coolup, were looking for variation and volume," he said.
Landmark auctioneer Harry Carroll said the higher values at the sale were relative to current market conditions.
"We are hoping for prices to stabilise which would benefit everyone in the industry," he said.
Landmark offered 56 bulls, with prices reaching $7000 for Angus, Red Angus and Simmental sires.
Landmark Albany branch manager Bob Pumphrey said the combined sale was a great success.
Landmark Blue Ribbon Female Breeder Sale *
