The last store sale of the year at Grafton was finished in half the time, just after lunch, with 519 head sold liveweight and 43 cows and heifers sold open auction. Buyer activity was subdued with prices back 10 per cent on last month, as fire affected cattle and a lack of buyers dragged the market backwards.
Steers to 400 kilograms numbered just over 300, averaging 213.5 cents a kilogram or $563 (237c/kg and $646 last month), reaching a top of 284c/kg and $992.
Heifers to 540 kg, 128 head, averaged 147.4c/kg and $339 (183c/kg and $422 last month), peaking at $834.
"It's hard to find a home for these cattle," commented commission buyer David Gillet who managed to send a few to Gunnedah and Goondiwindi. Geoff Brown sent steers to Wondoan and heifers to Raleigh. Simon Cronin sent calves to the Hunter.
Heavy steers topped at $1317 for Euro-cross, 535kg at 246c/kg, with no help from Hat Head bullock fatteners Brian and Charlie Killmore who recently sold to a Victorian consortium.
Bronc Riley, Springwood Grazing, sold Euro/Brahman steers, two tooth, 416kg for 250c/kg to make $1042 saying fires on all sides were enough of a concern to bring cattle into this last sale at Grafton until January 6.
Angus/Brangus, 292kg from Coombadja Pastoral made 284c/kg or $829. Two-tooth Angus from Phil Bailey, Ulmarra, 340kg made 258c/kg or $877.
Greenmount Meats at Kyogle and Coominya , Qld, were in the market for large framed, dry cows paying $735 for Angus, 490kg at 150c/kg. Bindaree Beef at Inverell took a few.