FOR the seventh consecutive year cold country tablelands cattle have taken out the Virbac Weaner Challenge at the annual weaner feature sale at Tamworth last Friday.
JB Carpenter, Carnegie, Niangala, took out top honours with a pen of seven- to nine-month-old grassfed weaner crossbred steers by Watasanta Santa Gertrudis sires and Clunie Range Angus dams, winning best steers and the challenge championship then selling at $1420 a head.
Charolais-crosses from Camlin Investments, Carlowrie, Manilla, were awarded champion heifers with daughters of DSK Charolais bulls and Angus/Santa Gertrudis-cross dams which sold at $1520/head.
Event judge, Jeremy Cummins, Teys Australia, said the cattle were exceptional, given the conditions before Christmas.
Weaner steers ranged in price from $1045 to $1420, while weaner heifers sold from $1000 and yearlings from $1220 to $1400.
Cows with calves sold to a top of $3100 for first-calver Angus heifers (rejoined) with three-to-four-month Angus calves at foot from Camlin Investments.
Santa Gertrudis/Hereford and Santa/Charolais-cross cows with calves sold up to $2850 as part of the C G Davison, Bundella, herd dispersal.
Shorthorn cows sold to $1625; PTIC Angus heifers made $1620, while Santa-cross heifers PTIC to Angus bulls sold at $1600 and Angus cows made $1600.
