A WET week squeezed numbers at the Carcoar store cattle sale last Friday where heavy Angus cows with calves topped $1900.
Angus weaners made up the majority of the yarding which totalled just 1672 head.
While the bulk of the crowd were there for a sticky beak, some buyers paid top dollar with steers selling $40 to $50 dearer. Heifers gained $20 to $30 a head.
Weaner steers in the 200 kilogram to 280kg range sold from $760 to $1035 to average 380c/kg liveweight. The 280kg and heavier steers received $1015 to $1200 amd most made between 340c/kg and 360c/kg.
Weaner heifers weighing 200kg to 280kg sold from $672 to $905 and averaged 320c/kg and the heavy weights reached $1000.
Feeders picked up the majority of the yearlings and topped at $1170 for the steers and $1020 for heifers weighing 355kg. Murray Grey feeder heifers hit $1105.
Lightweight Santa Gertrudis cows with calves sold from $885 while heavier Angus cows with calves hit $1900.
Pregnancy-tested in-calf (PTIC) females were limited. PTIC Angus cows ranged from $1010 to $1590.
Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Company agent Paul Breen, Canowindra, said it was a “fantastic” sale for vendors.
His client Ian McLeod, “Wahgunyah”, Woodstock, went home beaming.
Mr McLeod sold 19 Angus Te Mania-blood steers (weighing 272kg) for $1035.
“It’s a good time to be a cattle farmer,” Mr McLeod said.
“I’m very happy with the 380c/kg for my weaners and we also cracked the 400c/kg mark for another pen of mine at the sale, too. It was the best price we’ve received all year.”
Buyer Ed Roweth, Orange, paid $930 a head for a pen of 15 steers weighing 253kg.
“I should be selling today, not buying – it’s very expensive,” Mr Roweth said.
He planned to turn the steers over in 12 months.
Oberon producer Karl Behrendt bought 15 Angus-cross heifers weighing 189kg for $575.
“They were dear, that’s for sure,” he said.
