Victorian Angus bull selling season kicks off on Wednesday with an auction for the first time at Ayrvale Angus in Waubra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It comes after a strong start last week in South Australia and all-round high prices for cattle.
Richard White from Ayrvale welcomed the strong market, but said prices in Australia were only now catching up to those overseas.
“There’s no better time in the cattle industry in general,” he said.
“Certainly the prices that we’re receiving in Australia is us playing catch-up in the rest of the world. The United States has had record prices, New Zealand has seen record prices, it’s a matter of supply and demand around the world.”
For his first on-site auction Mr White will be hoping for similar results to those seen in South Australia for his 23 bulls up for sale.
A sale at Granite Ridge set a state bull record of $52,000 last week, smashing the previous mark of $23,000.
Mr White said hit had been an atypical season, with the drought having an impact but prices continuing to surge ahead.
“It’s a little bit of a strange scenario; there’s record high prices and drought areas.
“Low prices and droughts usually go together.”
“There have been good pockets, areas that have had rain, like some further north (in Australia) have had reasonable seasons.”
He said breeders would be looking to autumn for rain.
After two years of drought in Australia’s key cattle producing regions, some parts of the country finally had a decent season. In particular, much of NSW and parts of south-east Queensland have recorded ‘average’ to ‘above average’ rainfall over the past twelve months.
Mr White spruiked his strong bloodlines on sale at his first on-property sale.
“Sires for the sale include the first sons in Australia of Ayrvale Genetic G11 and Strathewen Regent E23 H70 to sell. Along with sons of popular choices Carabar Docklands, Dunoon Goodthing, Lawsons Novak, Pathfinder Goldmark and Te Mania Gaskin,” he said.
“(They) are all AI/ET bred...a selection of 18-month old and traditional 12-month-old.”
Analysts have forecast another strong year for cattle prices, with the Australian dollar staying around 70 US cents and the US market still calling for higher Australian imports.
The Ayrvale Angus bulls will be penned up for viewing from 10am at the Waubra property on Wednesday, February 17, and the Helmsman auction will take place at 1pm. Mr White said interested parties could contact him on 0418 418 642.
With Stock & Land and Farm Weekly
