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SALEYARDS have picked up from where they left off last year, with early southern weaner sales recording strong prices, good numbers and a clear premium for European Union market eligible cattle.

Hamilton, Casterton and Naracoorte (in South Australia) are set to host multiple sales this week, with one in Mortlake and another in Yea. Most sales are up and running, with bushfires postponing a sale last week.

The early sales have largely lived up to their expectations, with prices hovering between 500-550c/kg. With seasonal conditions turning around in Western Victoria, a larger portion of the cattle have been staying local. Evidently, less cattle stayed local in the Northern Victorian sales with seasonal conditions still dry in the area, along with large parts of southern and central NSW.

EU accredited cattle have reportedly been at the top of that price range, with market participants telling Beef Central today that feedlot and backgrounder buyers were paying a 20-30c premium.

Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann said the EU premium was noticeable at the company’s sales in Hamilton today.

“Angus EU steers are getting a good premium, about 30c over non-EU, which you don’t often see. That is not all of them, but the good ones were getting a decent premium,” Mr Homann said.

“The EU market seems to be good for exporters and a lot of EU cattle have left the system in recent times, I think people are just looking for EU to sure up supply chains.”

Mr Homann with good demand for heavier cattle, there was a good opportunity for people to trade.

“If you have some grass and you can look after these cattle, you can sell heavier cattle and buy lighter ones at a similar rate,” he said.

Heavier weights in the Western districts

The yardings in the Western districts early this week have reportedly been heavier than Northern Victoria and a lot heavier than last year, with cattle weighting between 380-420kg.

J.M Ellis & Co agent Jack Hickey said everyone was pleasantly surprised by the weights.

“We did have an unbelievable spring, but that was off the back of a really ordinary start for these cattle, so we didn’t expect to have the weights that we did,” he said.

“There was pretty well no difference in our weight this year compared to last year.”

Given the improved season in the western districts local buyers have purchased large numbers of cattle and have “underpinned” the sales so far according to Mr Hickey.

He also said cattle from the bushfire affected areas have started making their way west on agistment.

Bushfires impact on weaner sales

Last Friday’s weaner sale in Yea was postponed due to bushfires in the area and is yet to be rescheduled as the yards are currently a refuge centre for local livestock impacted by the disaster.

One livestock agent told Beef Central some cattle that were meant to be sold on 9 January have been killed in the fires and the loss of fencing infrastructure means livestock are scattered.

This week’s Yea Blue Ribbon weaner sale will go ahead on Friday 16 Jan but has been moved to Leongatha.

Softer demand from the north

While last year’s weaner sales were largely underpinned by buyers from Northern NSW and Qld, demand has reportedly not been as strong from those areas this year.

Plenty of cattle have still been heading north, however, seasonal conditions are not as good as they were last year.

Roma-based Nutrien agent Andrew Holt was down at the Northern Victorian sales last week buying heifers for clients in Southern Queensland. He said he was purchasing heifers between 430-460c/kg, which (including freight) cost about the same as buying in Qld.

“It is really good buying and I would have liked to buy more, but we just don’t have the grass up here,” Mr Holt said.

While the numbers are not huge, sales are starting to ramp up in Southern Qld and NSW. Dubbo hosted 3300 last week, Tamworth 2400 yesterday and Roma 4500 today.

Some have suggested that with season being patchy in those areas and the market being strong, that more cattle might come onto the market in the early months of this year.

• Beef Central will have more from the southern weaner sales in the coming weeks.