Dubbo cows reach $1400

This offering - a complete dispersal of the Noonan family's "Purnim" herd at Warren - was the highlight of what was described as a very tough sale among the 4260 head yarding of plainer quality and conditioned cattle.

The Noonans' top pen was of 18 first and second calver Angus cows with calves three to five years and pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) to Kidman Angus bulls, selling to the Mudgee district at $1400 each.

A line of 17 Santa cows with Angus cross calves at foot and also PTIC to Angus bulls made $1210 to the same buyer.

In what was described otherwise as a tough sale, steers and heifers were some $40 cheaper with weaner steers selling from $180 to $560, averaging $360.

In cents per kilogram liveweight these lines were averaging 156c/kg while better quality animals ranged from 180c/kg to 210c/kg.

Yearling steers averaged $500 a head.

Weaner heifers sold from $140 to $480 averaging $260 while yearling heifers sold to the $600 and averaged $380.

Seven hundred cow-and-calf units of plainer description ranged from $400 to $770 while dry cows made from $200 to $600.

The Schibble family, "Toobaroo", Narromine, gained $560 a head for a pen of 32 Angus steer weaners, seven to nine months, and according to Tim Wiggins, Christie and Hood, Narromine, a high price for their weight considering the drop in prices over the past couple of weeks.

"We have worked hard today in a very tough market in all sections of the yards," Mr Wiggins said.

Neil and Jennifer O'Connor's Warriston Pastoral Company, "Euromedah", Narromine, cleared their draft of 192 Angus heifers in good condition and rising nine to 10 months with weights of 350kg to 400kg, selling to a top of $480 to average $430 a head.

Guy Mitchell of Binnaway, gained $590 a head for his draft of 20 black baldy steers of 300kg selling to a Coonamble district restocker while another Coonamble district vendor, Roger Hertel, sold 21 young Charolais cows with calves at $750 a unit.