Grafton store market fell back compared with previous months, as expected, but buyer interest was strong with big bullocks and pregnant cows pulling the biggest return, with a market top of $1625 for red-tagged black Angus females.
Wayne Parks, with his family of Raleigh, bought 13 cows and one calf to the top money for an Angus female, tested in calf, from the disbursement of Maureen Hallgath, Nana Glen, 566kg for $1625 to top the sale.
Steers to 400kg, 219 in total, sold from 190 cents per kilogram to 346c/kg to average 283c/kg or $683 topping at $972.
Heifers to 540kg, 148 in total, made 152 – 294c/kg to average 250c/kg or $541 topping at $934.
Prices were down on the previous month by more than 30c/kg, in particular the lighter calves, and the number of buyers eager for a bargain seemed like they equaled the vendors, who offered just 421 head when previous September yardings were double the number.
Like a lot of cattle, four and six tooth bullocks were in short supply and Paul Carlton, Ulmarra once again squared off against his opposition in the bidding ring, Charlie and Brian Kilmore, Kinchela via Kempsey, by bidding to $1469 for a pen of Charolais cross 510kg at 288c/kg. The Kilmores, in the end, came away with the greater number of cattle and eventually scored a pen of seven young Angus heifers in calf, 507kg – part of the same disbursement from Maureen Hallgath – for the envious price of $1225.
The lower rivers are surviving best of all in the current dry and should improve when the nights begin to warm up – something of a rarity for the North Coast this spring.
Clarrie Shannon, Kempsey, bought four pens of suitable cows with calves bidding to $1300 for Brahman/ Hereford mothers which will go on his own mother's place at Gilletts Ridge via Ulmarra, where the low country is still performing despite the dry and where town water guarantees a drink.
Upriver near Baryulgil, ‘Carmina’ manager Mal Lloyd had enough dry feed to warrant the purchase of 20 steers and 30 heifers, three of them PTIC, all bought through Ray White Kempsey.
Red Range grazier Harold Petit, ‘Avalon’, with David Willis, buying through Newton, Teveld and Company purchased 17 steers, averaging 333kg and paying $874 for a Droughtmaster, 310kg at 282c/kg.
Northern Co-operative Meat Company were in the hunt for suitable heifers, paying from $734 for a Simmental cross, 270kg, to $371 for an Angus cross, 180kg.
Maree McClung, Upper Orara, bought a pen of Charolais steers, 250kg for $650, as her family rebuilds a herd after experimenting with 'semi-rural' living.
Scott and Trish Amon, Valla via Macksville, purchased a pen of four Angus heifers, 231kg for 274c/kg to bring $634 which will go onto leased country.
Melinda and Charlie Mifsud, Southgate via Grafton, bought a pen of six steers, Senepol over Brahman/Hereford, 310kg for 282c/kg or $874.