YEARLING steers sold to $1345 while pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) cows made to $1340 in the largest yarding (2700 head) of the new year at Dubbo store cattle sale last Friday.
Angus and black Simmental-cross yearling steers bred by Chris and Dianne Goodman, “Glenview”, Tooraweenah, topped the section with a pen of 12 while another dozen sold at $1175 and 20 Angus weaners of six months made $1000 each when bought by restockers.
The Goodmans also gained equal top money of $1340 for 28 PTIC Angus mixed-age cows and $825 each for their heifer weaner offering.
Equalising $1340 for PTIC cows were Geoff and Sue Raines, Dunedoo, who sold 16 Angus mixed-age females.
The larger offering, especially of steers and heifers allowed buyers to be more selective, according to P.T. Lord, Dakin and Associates co-principal Paul Dakin.
“The better quality lines made their value, but stock showing signs of the hot and drier season met with reduced competition,” Mr Dakin said.
“Quality weaners were well sought after, particularly Angus and the heifer weaners met very good demand from restockers and backgrounders.”
Mr Dakin said the very solid sale resulted with vendors’ expectations being well met.
Weaner steers sold from $265 to $1025 to average $685 or 314 cents a kilogram while yearling steers ranged from $800 to $1345.
Weaner heifers $390 to $870 to average $635 or 300c/kg, while yearling heifers sold from $490 to $960.
Cow and calf numbers were back a little but sold from $1200 to $2025 for Hereford cows with calves two to four months of age.
A pen of Angus cows with calves at foot of the same ages sold at $1980 a unit.
PTIC cows sold from $650 for lightweight crossbreds to the $1340 Angus while dry cows ranged from $700 to $780 a head.
Wellington graziers were active and Mr Dakin said buyers were also active from Cumnock, Tomingley, Peak Hill, Warren, Gilgandra, Scone, Narrabri and Taroom, Qld.
Star lots among the steers was a consignment of 212 Angus spring 2014 drop steers of Eaglehawk blood, offered by Hampshire Station, Merriwa, selling to $1290 to average $1175 going to feedlots, backgrounders and restockers from Inverell, Trangie and Dunedoo.
North western bred Hereford first calvers topped the cow and calf market at $2025 a unit.
Wellington’s Evan and Helen Frankham, “Roseneath” sold 14 Euro-cross yearling heifers to top that section at $960 a head. Graham Boroughs, Spicers Creek, gained the same money for their draft of 22 yearling Angus heifers.
Mr Dakin said western bred heifers within the yarding sold from $750 to $550.
