Dubbo PTIC heifers to $1260

Reports that so far with half of the month gone, this is already the driest June on record since official records began 100 years ago.

It’s the dry that has beef producers, especially restockers, wary, according to Christie and Hood, Gilgandra agent, Paul Alchin, who said feed availability was now limited.

“The wintry conditions and lack of rain over a large area of the state certainly has eased off the cow and calf market, and the cow market with people hesitant to take on the bigger mouths with no feed about,” he said.

Making just under half the offering weaner steers and heifers fell a little shorter in value with 346 steers making from $480 to $1115 to average $800 or 334 cents per kilogram while 440 heifers ranged in price from $300 to $930 averaging $650.

A handful of yearling steers and heifers ranged from $820 to $1225 for the 34 steers with the top being Charolais cross, and $700 to $860 for the 15 heifers.

PTIC heifers were in demand and of high quality although also cheaper with a combined section number of 149 head selling from $970 to $1260, the tops being black baldies.

PTIC cows were higher in numbers totalling 387 with 180 being of Bos Indicus breeds and crosses. The section ranged in price from $710 for crossbreds to $1600 for Angus while Santa Gertrudis made $1530 and Droughtmasters at $1230.

Shorthorns sold well throughout the sale with weaner steers making $800 and yearling steers at $1080 and in the cows with calves section topped the sale at $1680.

Cow with calf units started at $950 and averaged $1170 for the 145 units yarded.

A pen of nine Angus dry cows sold at $900.

Regular vendor, Bob Barnett, Wyregall, Narromine, sold a quality line of 23 Poll Hereford September 2016 drop weaner steers to a Forbes restocker at $1080 for the first 13 and $910 for the other 10 head to a Wellington district restocker.