STEERS topped at $680 and heifers $350 for a total clearance of 2411 head on day one of the annual George and Fuhrmann Weaner and Grower Steer Sale at Casino last Friday.
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Backgrounders and finishers, many European Union operators, snapped up some very good buys, particularly in the heifer section, of well-bred and well-presented lines, with cattle going as far afield as South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
There was a good deal of repeat custom and given the widespread critical feed shortages across the regions where coastal weaners are generally sent, it was a solid sale, according to George and Fuhrmann managing director Darren Perkins.
While both steer and heifer averages were back $100-plus on last year due to current conditions, in places the sale was slightly better than expected.
Overall, 1961 steers averaged $375 and 450 heifers $215.
John and Maree Smith's "Glen Ayre", Woodenbong supplied the top pen of 18 10- to 11-month-old EU Hereford Angus steers, average weight 363kg, to Jackson Agriculture, which runs a number of large fattening properties across the Northern Tablelands.
The Smiths' top Hereford steers made $548, while four pens of Hereford steers went to Syd Reynolds, "Turee Station", Coolah, for an average $480.
Most other pens went to EU bullock finishers Wickham Farms at Killarney, Queensland.
Mr Smith said the sale was "a shade better than expected, given there really weren't too many bright spots we could send our cattle to this year."
The Reid family, "Turner's Flat", Woodenbong, sold the top Hereford steers for $610 to Jackson Agriculture.
The Reids also had the top-priced heifers - eight- to nine-month-old EU Herefords which made $350 to Maurice Phelps, Dyraaba. They were judged champion heifers in the Heref-ords Australia-sponsored competition.
The Reids sold 110 steers and 51 heifers to an average $432, with the steer portion averaging $500 and topping at $610 for a pen, average weight 336kg, to Jackson Agriculture.
Champion pen of weaner steers went to Dennis and Sondra Hill, "Beaury View", at Urbenville for a pen of Herefords which made $585 to Welsh Pastoral Company at Deepwater.
Champion pen of grower steers went to Kyogle producers Grant and Jo Bulmer for milk-tooth Charolais-crosses which made $565 to a local bullock fattener.