TOP quality weaners from some of the New England's specialist weaner producers will be on offer in the 4500-head yarding at Inverell on March 7.
One of the biggest lines of calves will come from Michael O'Brien and Margaret McKenzie, Gerwa, Quambone, who are selling at Inverell for the second time, after good prices — a top of 362 cents a kilogram — last year.
They'll have about 280 weaners on offer, including about 70 older heifers, about 10 to 11 months of age, as well as some Speckle six to seven-month-old Speckle Park first-cross calves.
All calves have been early weaned, and while they're not as big as the 2017-drop calves, the quality is still there.
The Angus calves are by Outwest and Hollywood bulls, while the Speckle Park calves are a by Three Way Speckle Park bulls, from Angus mothers with mostly Outwest and Te Mania bloodlines.
The weaner sale is part of a bigger decrease in stock numbers for the family, who usually run about 800 breeders across five properties totalling 6680 hectares.
The calves have been yard weaned in a 40-hectare purpose built paddock with buffel grass, and fed good quality hay and oats that has been stored in a pit for about 35 years.
Ms McKenzie said the Speckle Park calves have done well despite the season, and had a lot of opportunity for growth with a backgrounder.
"When we rebuild, we'd like to have more Speckle Park because of their beautiful nature.
"They're bigger calves that grow faster, and and they're tougher than the Angus calves. You can tell by the shape of their rump, they're ready to grow out."
Specialist weaner producer and longtime Inverell sale supporter, Graeme Charters, Hilltop, Bingara, will have 280 mixed sex Angus and Ultrablack weaners on offer.
The Angus calves are by Peakes and Killain Angus bloodlines, and the Ultrablacks are based on Bellevue Brangus blood.
The calves have previously gone to backgrounders in the Inverell area and into South East Queensland.
"They're a bit lighter this year, but the quality is still there," Mr Charters said.
The David family, Glenirie, Bundarra will sell 180 Angus/Santa Gertudis-cross steers and 70 heifers, and Rodney and Lorraine McKinnon and Ken Langdon, Pine Cliff, Back Creek, will have 200 Charolais-cross mixed sex weaners available.
Woodlands Grazing, Tingha, will sell 70 Clunie Range-blood Angus weaners and 40 Euro-cross weaners, and the Jones family, Worungil, Warialda, have 60 Hereford steers and 40 heifers in the sale, mostly Glenwarrah blood.
The sale begins at 8.30am on Thursday, March 7.