Increased optimism within the Australian cattle market kept prices firm at yesterday’s Emerald weaner and feeder sale where quality lines drew interest from a vast quantity of buyers.
Cameron and Louisa Backus, Nardoo, Emerald, sold 202 EU registered and PCAS eligible Brangus weaner steers to a rewarding top of 377c/kg.
The steers averaged 368c/kg for 272kg to return $999/head.
Mr Backus said his Senepol Charolais cow herd had almost guaranteed progeny of suitable temperament for his wife and children to handle.
“It’s generally myself and Louisa or the kids in the yards and we’re not into climbing rails- we place huge emphasis on temperament,” he said.
“We were buying Senepol bulls from Louisa’s sister and her husband, Carlie and Lauch Ward, to use over our cows, but they started breeding Senepol Angus bulls which matched our direction.
“We were aiming to get everything black because that’s what the market is demanding but we wanted to maintain the quiet temperament of the Senepols.”
Mr Backus said he had consequently been incorporating black genetics into his herd for the last three years and the purchase of Brangus bulls was another way forward.
“We’re seeing the results we were looking for in the cattle and our prices today reflect that,” he said.
“We also like to breed polled cattle as there’s more and more pressure building against dehorning- the Charolais content was throwing some horn but the Brangus bulls we bought were all polled and we’re having good results in getting the majority of calves polled.”
The combination of colour, temperament and polled genetics was obviously making headway for the family and Mr Backus said he was “over the moon” with his sale results.
“We had a pretty tough year last year for where we are located- we had about 150mm for the year and our pregnancy rate this year is down so we won’t have as many to sell next year,” he said.
“We’re very happy that these ones sold well because that will tide us over.
“Our best price before this sale was 220c/kg so that’s a good indication of what’s going on.”
Landmark Emerald livestock agent Bryton Virgo said the steers’ EU accreditation and PCAS eligibility opened more market doors.
“Those two factors alone invited strong competition for backgrounder buyers and the AgGrow field days also saw new buyers join repeat buyers for the special category sale,” he said.
“The rain in the last few weeks has lifted the market here considerably as it has done Australia wide so good quality cattle are making extreme record prices.”
Mr Backus said selling progeny as weaners was his normal management plan however this year’s turnoff had received extra yard handling prior to the sale.
“The quieter cattle always generate more interest and anything we can do to be on the front foot with the market, we’ll do it.”
