They say it doesn’t rain grass, but considering the sudden turn around on the North Coast one would argue that, with store cattle at Grafton up from 30 to 50 cents a kilogram.
There were 516 head yarded with $1600 the best bid going to a Charbray cow and calf from Marc and Ellisa Carter, Tucabia. Weaner steers, half the yarding, averaged 338c/kg or $838. Heifers averaged 297c/kg or $685.
Buyers from Dorrigo, where dust-dry has become ankle-high, dominated the bidding but so too were the bullock buyers from the lower rivers.
Paul Carlton, Ulmarra, bid the top money for six tooth Angus cross bullocks, 555kg, paying 262c/kg to bring $1455.
“Prices are high but what can I do?” he asked. “I‘ve got grass and I need bullocks.”
Brian Kilmore and his father Charlie, Kinchela on the lower Macleay paid up to $1388 or 282c/kg for a four tooth bullock, 495kg and concurred with their competition saying they had no choice but to buy back in.
Tablelands buyers were more cautious, with their country yet to spring forth, and they expressed uncertainty at the other end of the market with abattoirs reluctant to increase prices.
Weaners were a full 50c/kg up with Grafton agricultural research station paying 336c/kg or $1059 for a pen of Brangus, 315kg, from Innes and Jeff Fahey, Winegrove via Copmanhurst.
Sharon Oughtred, Ulmarra, was in the market for weaners and paid up to $916 for Angus, 272kg for 336c/kg or $916.
