THE market softened for the store cattle sale at Tamworth on Friday, with the more affordable sale giving local buyers the chance to restock.
The 3500-head yarding of mainly good quality cattle, including some large runs of weaners, came from the New England, Gloucester and Narrabri areas, and sold mainly to buyers in the local area and from the Hunter Valley.
Agent Chris Paterson said there were feedlot buyers for the heavy heifers, but most cattle went to restockers and backgrounders.
The yarding included a major herd reduction of stud and commercial cattle from Rob Haling, Reedy Creek Herefords, Loomberah, as well as the first run of weaners from Walcha producers Gabby and Helen Wauch, “Mirrabooka”, with the Wauchs best weaners – about 650 – to be offered at the May 5 sale.
Breeders were firm, while the steers dropped $40 to $60 a head on the previous sale, and heifers $30 to $50.
Lightweight weaner steers sold from $750 to $1000, middleweight steers ranged from $900 to $1100, and heavy steers made between $1050 and $1280.
Lightweight weaner heifers ranged from $680 to $870, middleweights made between $870 and $1000 and the heaviest heifers sold from $1000 to $1100.
Pregnancy-tested-in-calf females reached $1780, while cows and calves sold to a top of $2200 for young Angus-cross cows with Charolais calves.
Mr Paterson expected the market to improve for the second major weaner sale on May 5.
“Providing we get another shower of rain in the next fortnight I think the next sale should be firm to dearer – the oats crop coming up should create more demand from backgrounders.”