THE market remained strong for the 1840-head of good quality weaners at the Armidale combined agents sale last Friday, with rain a few days before the sale boosting buyer confidence.
Weaners sold mainly to backgrounders at Gloucester, Gunnedah, Scone, Molong and Moree, with only limited feedlot competition.
Lightweight steers weighed from 170 kilograms to 220kg and sold from 400 cents a kilogram to 479c/kg for Angus steers weighing 190kg.
Middleweight steers weighing between 230kg and 290kg ranged from 370c/kg to 420c/kg, and heavy steers, those weighing from 300kg to 390kg, made between 340c/kg and 422c/kg.
The 1345 steers averaged 397.9c/kg and the 480 heifers reached a top of 386c/kg, for black baldies, and averaged 357c/kg.
Frank and Jill Spilsbury, “Wiluna”, Wandsworth, had the top pen with their Angus steers weighing 336kg. They sold for 416c/kg for a return of $1400 a head. The Spilsburys sold 113 steers averaged 417c/kg and $1250.
Rob Drew, “Glenroy”, Kentucky, sold 80 EU-accredited steers and 30 heifers, with the steers topping at $1368 for 393kg Charolais steers and the heifers reaching a high of 322c/kg for 334kg Charolais heifers, returning $1074.
Jim and Sue Barker, “Argyle”, Guyra, sold 302kg Angus steers for 420c/kg, returning $1268, and Clive and Margaret O’Connor, “Lillygrove”, Guyra, sold Angus steers weighing 280kg for 420c/kg, for a return of $1176.
