The November store sale at Grafton was stable compared to October when rain-fed grass prices kicked and many at Thursday’s market said the prior Tuesday prime sale was on-par for the first time.
Sales remained remarkable and the turn-out reflected that with an estimated 800 head swelling to 1250 and agents David Farrell and Mitch Donovan remarking how well the valley continued to deliver numbers.
A big spread of steers averaged $800. Heavy steers sold to a dearer average than any other category with Bronc Reilly, Springwood Grazing at Clarenza, paying 270 cents per kilogram or $1619, the top steer price, for a 570kg Brangus.
Gus Raymond, Bellingen, competed strongly against other volume buyers Brian and Charlie Kilmore, Kinchella lower Macleay, saying destocked paddocks were empty – and, like Ross Lawson, Clarenza, had to buy-in to stay in the game.
Merryn Meredith sold Angus steers off the banks of the Coldstream River at Colletts Island for the top sale price of 418c/kg for 163kg to make $684.
A second pen of 10 for the same money but heavier by 22kg with both pens bought by David Gibson, Dorrigo bringing his total to 54 purchased.
As a grass fed backgrounder Mr Gibson said straight, or as close to lines of black Angus were his preferred item, with Wyallah feedlot keen to fit Dorrigo fed cattle into its branded products.
Mark Hayman, Upper Copmanhurst, sold Droughtmaster steers 279kg for 368c/kg to realise $1027.
Richard Eggins sold Charolais cross steers, 220kg for $848 at 384c/kg.
Females started slow, when they first appeared, half way through the day, with cows averaging $818 and topping at $1302, slightly down on October.
The market improved as Thursday’s bidding continued. Cows with calves averaged $1546, up slightly on last month to top at $1820; heifers averaged $693 reaching $1134 – the same as last month.
Jane Cameron and Simon Wallace, Rushforth Road on the Orara, sold Senepol/ Droughtmaster heifers PTIC for $1089.