Hereford weaner cattle, at the big Hamilton, Vic, weaner sales series on Wednesday this week, saw the main run of calves average 194c/kg, or $620/head.
This was a 4-7c/kg premium for the average weight 320kg whiteface cattle over Angus weaners, which were sold earlier in the week and which have, for the past 15 years, been the premium priced breed.
The Hereford pricing put a spring in the step of local Hereford breeders at the sale who have seen their breed sell for lower prices, compared with Angus prices, for most of those 15 years.
The first two days of sales at Hamilton saw Angus weaner steers average 190 and 187 cents a kilogram liveweight.
The small liveweight price premium for Hereford steers translated to a $12 and $22 a head premium.
Strong demand for weaned and EU accredited calves helped lift the prices paid.
Weaned calves appeared to be making a 10-15 cent premium over similar lines of unweaned calves.
On Tuesday, strong northern interstate demand had driven weaner prices to a $610/head average, when weaner steers sold to 206c/kg and averaged 187c at the Elders-Landmark Angus sale at Hamilton.
Just over 3500 head from some of the top Angus herds in the region were sold.
The 187c average put the sale at +5c above the December 22 EYCI.
Elders’ Nigel Starrick said: “Demand was strong, with prices to 206 cents a kilogram twice - both Red Star prepared cattle - with most making 185-195c.
"Most of the cattle weighed between 310 and 340kg and most of them headed north.
"We had great support from NSW and southern Qld,” he said
On Monday, at the Victorian weaner sales, also at Hamilton, steers sold to 211c/kg in the first of this week’s sales.
Just over 2400 Angus steers weighing more than 280 kilograms sold to 211c/kg, and averaged 190c.
In dollars a head terms, this was an average of $612 for the medium to heavier-end of one independent agent's Angus offering, which averaged 323kg.
The 190c average price was a premium of 8c/kg above the December 22 EYCI.
There was much anticipation before the sale that pre-Christmas price levels of about 200c/kg may have been equalled or passed.
But these prices were paid at sales in Victoria’s North East - closer to northern markets, so the Hamilton prices reflected extra transport costs.
Some also suggested a cautionary approach by buyers over the prices.
While rain in the north, a lower dollar (but creeping upward in value), lower fuel prices and lower grain prices might normally mix to add confidence and willingness to bid more freely, the global financial crisis was said to be weighing heavily on confidence.
One of the independent agents, Craig Pertzel, Kerr and Co, said the prices were as he expected with pre-sale expectations overstated.
He said many had anticipated 200c or more (which would have added $30 to the average per head price on Monday) but the current prime and feeder steer market did not reflect this higher anticipated value.
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