Selling agents George and Fuhrmann and vendors were both very happy with the solid market prices received at the Stanthorpe Weaner Sale held on Thursday at the Stanthorpe Showgrounds.
Auctioneer Matthew Grayson said the market was 'very good' and reached both the agents and vendors expectations.
Almost 2800 weaners were offered in what is the first of the region's best bred weaners, drawn from the southern Queensland and over the border into the Northern Rivers district such as Wodenbong, Liston and Tabulam.
Taking the grand champion pen of weaners was Don Russell, Warwick Park Grazing, Liston who offered 57 Angus steers aged nine months old straight off their mothers.
In all, with an average weight of 252 kilograms, his steers averaged 401 cents/kilogram for an average of 401.4c/kg returning $1414/head.
Mr Russell offloads all his weaner cattle through this sale annually, as it suits his management practices.
H said before the sale, "any price above 400c/kg would be a bonus".
Based on Glenavon and Alumy Creek bloodlines, his top pen was judged the grand champion overall and champion pen of steers, and made 392c/kg to return $1543/head.
Also having a very successful sale was Michael and Jessica Smith from Adrigoole, Woodenbong, who claimed the champion pen of heifers with their 15 Angus heifers aged from eight months, straight off their mothers.
These heifers with an average weight of 346/kg sold for 445c/kg to return $1541/head.
Mrs Smith they were very happy with their result as they were hoping the market would kick from what it was a couple of months ago.
"We were being very realistic in our expectations and are happy," she said.
Feedlot operator Ben Maher, B Feeders, Warwick was active and bought 80 steers with a weight range of 350kg for an average of 383c/kg to finish for the 100 day grain-fed Woolworths market.
"The market was 10 to 15c/kg dearer than I would have liked, but we need to remember the market is driven by the black Angus premiums, he said.
"It was a strong market without hitting the dizzy prices of previous sales."
Pre-sale judge Charlie Starky, Glenora, Gooomburra, said the offering was a good representation, and an outstanding line-up of quality and genetics, representing a fine example of what the region can breed.
"There is not a bad beast in the saleyard," he said.
"I have been buying cattle from this sale for the past four years with great results.
"As for the Warwick Pastoral Company's grand champion pen, "I know they perform as I have bought them in previous years."
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
