THE market has taken a turn for the better in the north of the State following a couple of falls of rain, according to Manilla agent Patrick Purtle.
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Mr Purtle said cattle meeting the feeder specifications had generally been strong for some time but following about 20 millimetres of rain twice in as many weeks the lighter types of cattle had also improved in value.
"The extra numbers being offered has coincided with the rain in the past fortnight," he said.
"We have noticed more interest in the lighter cattle as people look to put the cattle on oat crops before selling them on."
He said from Dubbo south the season was also very good and this was influencing the type of buyers on the selling rail at the northern sales.
"There has been a number of southern buyers in the market at Tamworth, but they are most active on the restocker type cattle," he said.
Mr Purtle operates Purtle Plevey Agencies and is pictured with one of his clients, Bill Greenslade, "Warongah", Manilla, who sold 127 weaners to a top of $450 a head at the Tamworth store cattle sale.
Mr Purtle estimated the market had picked up a bit more since the sale of Mr Greenslade's cattle late last month.