Angus steers topped at $1848 on day one of the annual three day George and Fuhrmann weaner sale, featuring Hereford, Angus, and Murray Grey breeds.
Champion pen of Hereford steers went to repeat ribbon winners John and Jan Smith, Woodenbong, for a pen of EU-accredited calves weighing 300 kilograms that sold to Wickham Farms, Killarney, Qld, for 496 cents a kilogram or $1498.
The couple's heifers, seven pens in total, averaged 422c/kg or $904 for an average weight of 214kg going through Elders Goondiwindi.
Champion pen of Angus steers and heifers went to Gordon and Margaret Quinn, Dambaroo, Cudgen Creek in the Tweed Valley, who have received 1200mm of rain in the last two months after just 700mm in 2019 with cows 'nearly eating water' and calves back by 10kg on previous years' weights.
Yet prices have never been better, with the Quinn's 73 steers averaging 306kg to bring 493c/kg or $1513 going through Kellco. The 67 heifers, 290kg, making 441c/kg or $1280.
Ron and Nea Maloney, Woodenbong, were awarded a ribbon for champion Hereford heifers, 230kg, which sold to a top of $975 while their best steers, 315kg, returned $1518.
Jim and Jan Smith, Townview, Urbenville, sold only Hereford steers, 303kg to 490c/kg or $1480 also going to Wickham Farms along with Jackson Ag, onto Tablelands' grass, and further afield to the Narrabri district.
Paul, Marian and Glen McKey, Bundaleer, Woodenbong, sold 50 Hereford steers to an average of 492c/kg for 188kg or $924, making slightly better money than the high prices of 2017 for calves that felt the dry conditions right up until January.
"Our breeders are down by half but we were happy with the way our calves presented. Our cows have filled out and freshened up," Mr McKey said.
Sandra and Ian Reid, Woodenbong, sold Hereford steers for an average of $1079 with buyers taking them to the Tablelands and further west to Coonamble.
Lyle family Angus, Yorklea, sold their own bred Angus heifers, 307kg, for 440c/kg or $1351 going to Paddy and Jeanette Vout, Fairy Hill, who have bought Lyle family Angus bulls for the past three years.
Mr Lyle said prices in 2017 were 402c/kg or $1210.
"The turn around in the season is absolutely monumental," he said.
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