ABOUT 2500 store cattle went under the hammer during the annual Landmark Classic Sale at Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange last Thursday.
Landmark agent Joel Fleming said it was the first time the sale has been conducted as a liveweight sale, with cattle preweighed and sold in cents a kilogram. This paves the way for another pre-weigh weaner sale to be conducted by the Tamworth Livestock Selling Agents Association in May.
The general feeling was the market was “solid considering the season”. This was also in light of a return to heatwave conditions expected the following week, and rain in Queensland having little impact so far.
Some of the highlights included the top of the steers at $1543 for 559 kilogram Santa Gertrudis/Charbray feeders aged 14 to 16 months. They were sold by A. and S. Smith, “Longridge Farms”, Tamworth, and made 276c/kg.
A run of more than 300 grassfed, July/August 2016-drop Angus steers, sold by Cuan Pastoral, Scone, sold to 326c/kg with the top pen making 300c/kg and averaging 408kg/$1223.
Heifers topped at $1188 for yearling Poll Hereford heifers sold by S.R. and T.A. Crowley, “Tycolah”, Cobbadah. The heifers weighed an average of 432kg to be knocked down for 275c/kg.
Cows with calves sold to $2300 for Angus cows with their first calves who had been running with Eastern Plains and Bald Blair Angus-blood bulls. They were sold by Tregantle Partnership, Quirindi.
Pregnancy-tested-in-calf females topped at $1200 for European Union-accredited Angus heifers. The heifers were in calf to Wagyu bulls to commence calving in May and July were sold by R.S. and T.M. Turnbull, “Eulourie”, Upper Horton.
G. and L. Rule, “Pepper Trees”, Upper Manilla, dispersed 70 PTIC Poll Hereford cows for a top of $1140. Their weaner heifers averaged 302c/kg and the steer calves averaged 342c/kg.
