PRICES reached $944 at the annual Kilburnie Cattle Company weaner sale at Walcha last Wednesday.
The 2100-head yarding of good quality cattle attracted bidding from the Northern Tablelands, Liverpool Plains and the North West, with cattle going to Quirindi, Inverell, Gunnedah and Wee Waa.
With so much competition for heavy and middleweight steers from feedlots and backgrounders, very few local restockers bought cattle.
Steers weighing under 250kg sold from $275 to $595, steers from 250kg to 300kg ranged from $650 to $800 and heavier steers weighing more than 300kg made between $850 to $944.
The 35 lighter heifers under 250kg ranged from $225 to $410, mediumweight heifers weighed between 250kg and 275kg sold from $540 to $600, and heavy heifers 275kg to 310kg made between $650 and $700.
Kilburnie Cattle Company owner Tony Clift said cattle sold well, but were still affordable.
"Buyers were chasing weight. The bigger steers sold well but lighter cattle didn't sell as well as we hoped," he said.
"People haven't got grass or water to be backgrounding lighter cattle.
"The heifers were cheap especially considering their genetics."
Mr Clift said most of the heavier weaners went to Killara feedlot at Quirindi, with only lighter cattle going to local restockers.
"Most of the cattle weighed from 250kg to 330kg, so they're already big enough to enter the feedlots."
Elders agent Cameron Wilson, Brisbane, said the steer section was on par with other sales in the region.
"The steers averaged 268 cents a kilogram and the heifers averaged 224c/kg," Mr Wilson said.
"It was very strong all the way through for the seasonal conditions in the area."
Mr Wilson said many of the cattle went to repeat buyers.
"There were some long-time Kilburnie clients but we missed out on a few buyers who couldn't come due to seasonal conditions."
