Prices remained consistent at the first Tamworth store sale of the new financial year with the largely local filled yarding offering solid results for vendors and opportunity for buyers.
Strong buyer interest meant many were still lining up to sign in when the sale was due to kick off and the laneways were soon full with producers looking for a bargain.
The yarding of about 1500 head of cattle was largely made up of cattle from local districts, mostly steers and heifers, with few lines of cows and calves and PTIC females.
Ian Morgan Livestock agent Ben Goodman said the market was consistent with past store sales and while it wasn't dearer it had remained solid.
"There was strong competition from local district graziers," he said.
"There was the chance to purchase cattle and those selling cattle would have been happy with the prices as well."
There was a race to get a prime spot at a corner pen housing 23 Charolais cross Shorthorn steers sold by Garvin and Cousens that had caught many people's eyes for their bone and weight for age.
In the end the cattle of Geoff and Kerry Swain, Oralla, Nundle were knocked down for the top steer money of $1335/head.
The bought in steers had been secured from Casino in March and pasture-raised as part of the cattle trading section of their business.
The pair also run a Merino flock but were happy with the price and the return on their steers.
"We had a lot of feed and we needed them to knock the feed down for the sheep," Mr Swain said.
"We went from the drought to too much feed."
They also sold 10 Charbray steers at $1215/head with an additional one getting $1000/head, and 15 Brangus steers at $1170/head.
Angus genetics brought much of the remaining premiums with Peel Technology High School, West Tamworth, paying the second top steer money of $1300/hd for Angus cross.
Angus heifers also topped at $1290 while Angus and Angus cross cows hit $1725 and the best of the cows and calves was up to $2500.
Davidson Cameron and Co agent Chris Gooch agreed the steer job was strong with most averaging out at just over $1000. Plainer heifers were making from $750 to $900 and overall averaging out at $875.
"A very strong heifer market today with restockers putting together good lines of black cattle," he said.