Around the store sales

Speckles Parks sizzle in a red hot store and prime market

By Kim Woods

C and J Henry, Wandoan, sold a line of 96 Speckle Park/Droughtmaster yearling steers, 352kg and 12 to 15 months for $2130 or 604c/kg

Prices for store and prime Speckle Park and Speckle Park infused cattle reached dizzying heights as record after record was smashed in an extraordinary year for the cattle industry.

A national herd rebuild, return to favourable seasons and strong export market kicked along prices for commercial cattle. Purebred and Speckle Park infused steer weaners topped at 985c/kg or $2150 per head in physical and online markets, while purebred and crossbred weaner heifers topped at $2405 or 878c/kg. Unjoined commercial heifers finished at $2880 or 960c/kg and yearling steers $2150 or 643c/kg. Feeder steers topped out at $2585 or 603c/ kg, and heavy grown steers at $3101. Unjoined grown heifers finished at $2800 and PTIC heifers sold to $3620, while unjoined cows topped at $2700. Unjoined heifers with calves sold to a stellar $4550, cows and calves to $4500 and joined cows with calves to $4460.

A highlight of the store sales was the Shepparton Special Speckle Park Store Sale on November 5 where prices hit $4500 for cows and calves.

Topping the cow and calf offering was six Speckle Park/Angus heifers, two years and 545kg, with calves, sold by Black Diamond Speckle Park, Macorna. Their seconds sold for $4300.

Older Speckle Park cross cows, five to seven years, with calves, sold to $3550 while a five-year-old unjoined Speckle Park cow, 525kg, made $2700. A grown Speckle Park/Friesian heifer, 24 months and 605kg, made $2650 while yearling Speckle Park cross heifers, 15 to 18 months, topped at $2800.

Weaner Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 284-388kg, sold for $2000-$2200.

In the steer pens, a grown Speckle Park/Friesian steer, 540kg, made 425c/kg or $2300, a yearling F1 steers, 460kg, made 467c/kg or $2150, weaner crossbred steers, 10 to 11 months, made 545c/kg or $2150.

R Malcolm and A McDonald sold F1 weaner steers, six to seven months and 303kg, for $2000 or 660c/kg, and their tops, weighing 342kg, made $2140 or 625c/kg.

Topping the yarding on a cents per kilogram basis was C and J Dietrich with F1 steer weaners, six months, at 688c/kg or $1240. They also topped the weaner heifers with Speckle Park/Friesians, six months and 198kg, at $1320 or 666c/kg. The sale was hosted by Mulcahy Nelson Livestock and grossed $560,665 and averaged $2674 with cattle selling to Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

The breed hit the headlines in June 2021 when a line of unjoined purebred heifers weighing 364kg and 14 to 15 months, were sold by a Tasmanian vendor for $4875 to a NSW buyer.

Born in a four-week period across February and March of 2020, these heifers were registered and offered by Elders Tasmania on behalf of J and V Argent, Elliot. Continued page 52

They were out of Roscrea and Gin Gin cows and sired by River Hill, High Low and JAD bulls using AI.

In Victorian markets, Bloomfield Speckle Park Stud, Bayles, sold Speckle Park/Friesian cross heifers, unjoined, 447kg and 26 months, with calves for $3460.

At Mortlake, T and J Anderson, Terang, sold purebred heavy steers, 620kg, for 460c/kg or $2852 and Cairnhill Beef sold steers, 215kg, for 660c/kg or $1420 at Euroa.

Ian Haines, Lockington, sold Speckle Park/Holstein Friesian heifers, unjoined, 23-25 months and 396kg, with calves, for $3120. Koramo Park, Naring, sold Speckle Park/Angus/Friesian steers, 228kg, for 608c/kg or $1390.

Koyuga Speckle Park, Tongala, sold Speckle Park/Friesian weaned steers, 296kg, for 542c/kg or $1610. J and N Smith, Leitchville, sold a line of 24 weaned Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 339kg, for 589c/ kg or $2000.

Almost breaking the sound barrier was Speckle Park/Friesian mixed sex calves from G and A Meyland, Numurkah, at an incredible 985c/ kg or $1105, and with a liveweight of 112kg.

Speckle Park/Angus cross feeder steers, 344kg and 12 to 18 months, were sold by J and N Smith, Leitchville, for 572c/kg or $1970. Brendan Mahncke was all smiles at the Western Victorian Livestock Exchange when his Speckle Park steers grown steers were sold by Nutrien Ag Solutions Warrnambool for a 477c/kg to return $3101.

Also at WVLX, R and S Smith topped the run with a Speckle Park steer making 475c/kg or $3078.

Unjoined purebred heifers, 295kg and 12 to 14 months, were sold by the McGillivray family, Gunbower, for $1910 or 645c/kg.

Weaned Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 234kg and 10 to 12 months, made 773c/kg or $1815 for Hawthorne Grange, Warragul, while the Weidenbach family, Wahring, sold Speckle Park/Shorthorn joined cows, 356kg and three years, and their calves for $3180.

Speckle Park/Limousin feeder steers, 359kg and 12 to 14 months, fetched $2020 or 562c/kg for S O’Donoghue, Dingee, and Mike Sorraghan, Dhurringile, sold Speckle Park/Friesian mixed sex calves, 114kg, for 806c/kg or $920. Unjoined cows, two to four years and 385kg, with calves made $3100 for Mt Hope, Tallarook while Van der drift and Sons, Derrinallum, sold Speckle Park/Angus feeder steers, 428kg, 16-18 months, for $2585 or 603c/kg. HF Richardson Livestock sold on behalf of Woodlands Pastoral, Bullarook, steers at Western Victoria Livestock Exchange for 552c/ kg to return $2670 in October. PTIC heifers offered by Uppatrak Pastoral, Killawarra, weighed 489kg and aged 22-24 months, sold for $3250.

R Wellington, Cobram, returned $1900 or 621c/kg for unweaned heifers, 305kg, six to eight months while Sladin Pty Ltd, Flynn, sold weaned Speckle Park/black baldy heifers, 324kg, for $2100 or 647c/kg.

At Pakenham store sale, D and R Scott, Stoney Creek, topped the sale with Angus heifers and Speckle Park calves, three to four-weeks-old, at $4550.

In the Warrnambool store market, a pen of Speckle Park/Friesian cross steers sold by A and C Neville, Warrnambool, for $2227 or 550c/kg. Danzuille Speckles dispersed a pen of purebred cows with calves for $3600 at Shepparton store sale. Nerrena, Gippsland, returned $3670 for Angus heifers, 2-2.5 years and 437kg, with Speckle Park cross calves. Speckle Park/Angus cross feeder steers, 413kg and 12 to 19 months, finished at $2310 or 558c/kg for York Bay Pty Ltd, Gunbower. Myrtlevale, Kardella South, sold Speckle Park/Friesian heifers, 311kg and 12 to 13 months, for $1800 or 577c/kg.

S and P Rea, Panmure, sold Speckle Park/Friesian backgrounder heifers, 200kg and six to seven months, for $1470.

Heading north into NSW, JCD Pastoral, North Star, received 606c/ kg or $1950 for unweaned Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 321kg while M and H Stewart, Armidale, returned $3880 or 912c/kg for Speckle Park/Angus unjoined heifers, 425kg, and calves.

Scanlon Family Trust, Southern Tablelands, sold station mated cows, four to five years and 539kg, with calves for $4460. W Woldhuis, Purlewaugh, sold unweaned Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 322kg and seven to nine months, for $2405 or 754c/kg.

Daniel Attard, Oberon, sold unjoined heifers, 336kg, 10-12 months, for 695c/kg or $2340, and D and A Moxey, Yarrowitch, sold Speckle Park/Angus backgrounder steers, 312kg, 14-15 months, for $2010 or 643c/kg. Purebred weaner steers returned $1550 for Daniel and Sarah McCormack, Dungog, when they sold at the Dungog store sale. Wilgabar Partnership, Walgett, sold PTIC Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 466kg and 24-25 months, for $3220.

Wilgabar also sold weaned heifers, Speckle Park/F2, 303kg and 10 months, for $1825 or 600c/kg and the steer portion, 343kg, for $1905 or 554c/kg. Glengarry Binalong Pty Ltd, Binalong, sold unjoined yearling heifers, Speckle Park/Angus and 371kg, for $2220 or 597c/kg.

Minnamurra Speckle Parks, Oberon, processed crossbred cows at HW Greenham, Moe, with 50 head F1 cows averaging $2288 with a dressing percentage of 54. All graded MSA with an average MSA Index of 54.14 (up to 60.55) after being transported 1100km.

A and L Rutter, Tumut, sold 462kg first calf Angus heifers with their Speckle Park calves for $3890. Stockbridge Australia, Armidale, returned $3160 on Speckle Park/Angus PTIC heifers, 419kg and 1517 months.

Station mated Speckle Park/Angus cows, 493kg and five to six years, and their calves, fetched $3780 for Chris and Karri Noonan, Bathurst. Kicking off the New Year in January, the Wesley family, Hillston, returned $4125 for purebred cows, 650kg, four years and PTIC, with purebred calves, 300kg.

Ron Potter Farms Pty Ltd, Hillston, sold unjoined Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 454kg and 15-17 months, EU accredited, for $2160. Chris and Karri Noonan, Bathurst, returned $3780 for station mated Speckle Park/Angus cows, 493kg and five to six years, with calves.

Scanlon Family Trust, Southern Tablelands, sold station mated cows, four to five years and 539kg, with calves for $4460.

I Selwood, Orange, returned $4140 for Angus heifers, 24-26 months, with Speckle Park cross calves by JAD bulls when sold online in October.

G and K Dwyer, Mount David, made $1555 or 657c/kg when they sold Speckle Park/Angus weaned heifers, 236kg, and eight to 12 months. Franco Herefords, Casino, sold Speckle Park/Hereford station mated cows, 490kg, and 2.5-4 years, with calves, for $3680, and PTIC F1 cows, 535kg, for $2600.

Vale Grazing, Wellington Vale, sold weaned Speckle Park/Angus steers, 271kg, for $1840 or 677c/kg and the heifer portion, 271kg, for $1930 or 711c/kg. D Hemsley, Gilgandra, sold Speckle Park/ Shorthorn cross yearling heifers, 261kg and 10 to 13 months, for $1760 or 673c/kg.

Waratah Speckle Park, Guyra, sold Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 369kg, 24-25 months, for $2500 or 677c/kg. I Selwood, Orange, returned $4140 for Angus heifers, 24-26 months, with Speckle Park cross calves by commercial JAD bulls when sold online in October. Kerringle Pastoral Co, Dunedoo, sold Speckle Park/Angus cross heifers, PTIC, 480kg and 20-24 months, for $3250.

Station mated Angus/Speckle Park cows, 717kg and four to six years, with calves made $4325 for S and D Eagleton, Mudgee, while their PTIC F1 cows, 734kg and four to six years, returned $3225. Moore and Frost, Coolah, returned $1800 or 704c/kg for Speckle Park/Angus weaned heifers, 255kg and six to 11 months. Araluen Partnership, Bingara, sold first calf Droughtmaster heifers, 30-33 months and 465kg, with Minnamurra and Wattle Grove blood calves, for $4150.

Speckle Park/Angus heifers, weighing 419kg, 15 to 17 months, and joined to Angus bulls, made $3160 for vendor Stockbridge Australia Pty Ltd.

P and S Livingstone, Manildra, sold a draft for 43 Speckle Park F2 PTIC heifers, 26-28 months and 483kg, joined to Bowan Park bulls to a top of $3620.

In Queensland, C and J Henry, Wandoan, sold crossbred heifers, 207kg, at Dalby for 657c/kg or $1361, and a line of 96 Speckle Park/Droughtmaster yearling steers, 352kg and 12 to 15 months for $2130 or 604c/kg. Shane Muller, Maroon, sold purebred weaners, six months, for $1190 at Scenic Rim.

Milk tooth purebred steers from Crownthorpe made 460c/kg or $2116 at Biggenden, and milk tooth stees from Tiaro returned 460c/ kg or $1955. Marion Simmonds, Tara, sold Speckle Park/Angus/ Brahman weaned heifers, 198kg, for $1180 or 594c/kg.

Granite Belt Steel and Hail Netting Supplies, Stanthorpe, returned $1450 or 701c/kg on Speckle Park/Angus weaned heifers, 206kg. Their steer portion, 215kg, made $1500 or 696c/kg. Craig Horsfield, Wivenhoe Pocket, sold eight to nine-month-old Speckle Park heifers for $1700 at Laidley. Allenview Park, Beaudesert, sold purebred heifers, 299kg and 12 to 14 months, for $2880 or 960c/kg and younger heifers, 206kg and eight to nine months, for $1810 or 878c/kg. Marion Simmonds, Tara, received $1180 or 594c/kg for Speckle Park/Angus/Brahman weaned heifers, 198kg and six to 11 months.

In South Australia, SAM Property Trust, Myponga, sold PTIC purebred heifers, 363kg, 15-17 months, for $3020, the seconds at 385kg, 1518 months, for $2920 and the thirds, weighing 353kg, for $2900.

Santa Gertrudis cows with one to two-month-old Speckle Park calves topped the Naracoorte store market in September on $3200 for the Wilson family, Western Flat, selling to John Chay and Co, Millicent.

Speckle Park F2 backgrounder steers, 315kg and eight to nine months, finished on $1850 or 585c/kg for Lucas Farm Asset Management Pty Ltd, Balhannah. The heifer portion, 279kg, made $2000 or 715c/kg.

R and M Pearson, Kongorong, sold unjoined Speckle Park/Friesian heifers, 550kg and 22 to 26 months, with calves, for $3560. Ryecroft, Inman Valley, returned $3260 for PTIC Speckle Park/Friesian heifers, 502kg, 18-20 months and joined to Angus bulls. Purebred vealer steers, 197kg, fetched 655c/kg or $1290 when sold by Kamarah Pty Ltd, Wannamal, at Boyanup in WA. The heifer portion, 137kg, made 680c/kg or $935.

At Muchea, Kamarah sold grown steers, 488kg, for 468c/kg or $2288, and a heifer, 326kg, for 438c/kg or $1427.

In Tasmania, A Faulkner, Scottsdale, sold Speckle Park/Angus heifer weaners, 298kg, for 502c/kg or $1500 while DRG Agriculture, Flinders Island, returned $2050 or 431c/kg for Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 475kg and 36 months.

Unjoined purebred future breeders from Tasmania topped at a whopping $4875 in June on AuctionsPlus when the heifers weighing 364kg drew opening bids of $4100 and the successful buyer was from central western NSW.

The autumn 2020 drop heifers were purebred and registered, and offered by Elders Tasmania on behalf of J and V Argent, Elliot with the price $650 above reserve.

The vendor bred heifers were by Roscrea and Gin Gin cows and sired by River Hill, High Low and JAD bulls using artificial insemination.

Backgrounder Speckle Park/Friesian heifers, 174kg, returned $1360 or 778c/kg for Glendale-MEB Investments, Launceston when sold in October.

Stoneybanks Speckle Park, Elizabeth Town, sold Speckle Park/Angus heifers, 316kg and 12 to 13 months, for $2020 or 638c/kg, and PTIC F2 heifers, 431kg and 24 to 25 months, for $2475.