STRONG interest from restockers following rain and the return of lotfeeder competition pushed prices to a high of $1420 a head for yearling steers at Tamworth on Friday.
The 2900-head yarding of good quality cattle came from the New England, North West, Hunter and Mid North Coast.
Landmark agent Scott Simshauser, Tamworth, said the market was firm for breeders, but light, good quality young cattle fetched between $30 and $50 more than at the previous sale.
Light weaner steers weighed between 180 kilograms and 220kg and ranged from $860 to $920, middleweight steers weighed from 230kg to 260kg and sold from $950 to $1090, and heavy weaner steers weighing 270kg or more made between $1040 and $1280 for 10- to 12-month-old Angus and Angus-cross steers.
Yearling steers sold from $1200 to $1420 for Droughtmaster steers from Maurice and Roslyn O'Neill, "Nook Creek", Bellbrook, near Kempsey. Their draft of 116 10- to 16-month-old Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross steers averaged $1320.
Seven-month-old Limousin-cross steers from the Harrington family, “Enfield North”, Walcha, sold to $1180, and David and Pam Gowing, Tamworth, sold EU-accredited six- to seven-month-old Speckle Park steers for $1150.
Lightweight weaner heifers weighed from 160kg to 200kg and sold from $590 to $705, medium heifers made between $680 and $850, and the heaviest weaner heifers, weighing 260kg or more, ranged from $850 to $960 for seven-month-old Limousin-cross heifers and eight- to 10-month-old EU-accredited Hereford heifers.
Yearling heifers sold from $1000 to $1200 for a line of Angus heifers from Roseby Farming. EU-accredited, 12- to 14-month-old Angus heifers sold for $1155.
PTIC females sold from $1290 to $1880.
Cows and calves topped at $3000 for two- and three-year-old Charolais cows with calves and rejoined to a Speckle Park bull.
A four-year-old cow with twin steer calves from Brian Filby, “Surrey Park”, Currububula, sold for $2750 and six-year-old stud Angus cows from Paul and Genevieve Baker, Manilla, made $2450.
Most young breeders sold from $1900 to $2750, middle aged cows made from $1800 to $2000 and older cows ranged from $1400 to $1750.
Mr Simshauser said rain in the Tamworth region – up to 50 millimetres – had prompted extra interest from restockers wanting to take advantage of any extra feed.
“We also had three or four lotfeeders from Queensland bidding on yearling cattle with a bit of condition and their intentions were clear – they wanted quality cattle.”