The largest yarding of weaners in the past six years, 1511 in total, delivered good prices at Wauchope on Saturday with light Hereford 165 kilograms, by Vicki Brown Toms Creek, selling to 506 cents a kilogram making $835.
Light Angus countered, with weaners 150kg to 180kg selling to a top of 517c/kg and returning $790 to $885.
The better Angus 260kg to 320kg sold $960 to $1170. Light Angus 150kg to 180kg made $790 to $885.
European-cross 250kg to 290kg, mostly Charolais over Hereford/Brahman made $900 to $990, averaging 375c/kg. Hereford 220 to 280kg made $900 to $980 averaging 415c/kg.
With feedlot demand for direct entry yearlings 300 to 440kg eased, compared to three weeks ago, agent John O’Brien, Wauchope Stock and Estate, said demand from buyers looking to grow their profit now benefits light weaners, particulary those destined for Victoria and southern NSW.
“Dearest calves were 150 to 200kg,” he reported. “The bidding for light cattle was way dearer than in corresponding weeks.” For instance a 160kg Angus/Brangus brought $845 for Lawrence Steep, Kindee.
Most calves stayed local but other buyers took them west as far as Inverell with a few to fattening paddocks at Yarrowitch, home of the sale’s judge, Murray O’Keefe, who awarded best steers in a pen of 7-10 head to Michael Burke, Wauchope, for Angus/Limousin, 320kg which made $1170. Best pen 11 or more went to Wayne Hammond, Coopernook, for Angus, 280kg which made $1020. Best pen of cross weaner steers went to Upper Macleay cattleman Neil Lawrence, Five Day Creek, for Santa Gertrudis/Hereford 305kg making $1050.
Angus 275kg from Peter Garrett, Red Bank, made $275. Same from Luke Lyon, Long Flat, 290kg made $1050.
A Hereford poll steer from John Gardner, Comboyne, weighed 260kg and made $950.
Best pen of heifers as judged by Mr O’Keefe, also came from Neil Lawrence, Five Day Creek, Santa/Hereford 270kg making $890.
A pen of Hereford heifers 190kg, from Michael Flanagan, Toms Creek, made $730.
The yarding was boosted to some extent with about 80 weaners that might otherwise have gone to Taree saleyards.
