Solid support from Central Tablelands restockers gave some strong competition to a large contingent of locals for the 1420 head yarded at last Friday's Dubbo store cattle sale where cows with calves sold up to $2780 and pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows to $1700.
A good number of good quality lines of weaner steers and heifers were among the yarding along with some plainer types which pulled back values to firm compared to the last sale.
However, weaner steers were dearer selling from $360 for young Angus calves to $1300 a head for good quality Angus steers among the 500 head offered.
The 600 cents a kilogram (liveweight) mark was achieved on a number of occasions according to Meat and Livestock Australia, while the better heavier weaners sold from 315c/kg for plain crossbreds to 445c/kg for the better quality British breed steers.
Weaner heifers sold from $490 for very young Angus calves to $1145 a head for good quality Charolais-cross heifers within the 540-head penning.
Sam Christensen of CPS Thomas, Ballhausen and Irvine, Dubbo, said there was a competitive market for "front paddock" cattle.
"Light grass eater cattle were firm compared to the last sale," he said.
"Cows were firm to $50 a head cheaper, while genuine young cows with calves were firm to dearer."
There were also some very good quality cows and cows with calves among the smaller yarding of 100 cow/calf units and a dozen cows along with some good pens of PTIC heifers and cows totalling 120 head.
A pen of PTIC Charolais-cross heifers sold to a top of $1596, while the balance of the PTIC heifers sold from $1160 for Bos Indicus-cross to $1550 for Angus.
The best of the cows with calves were a line of Angus with their first calf selling for $2780.
They fetched from 387c/kg to 530c/kg to average 499c/kg while the balance of the cow/calf units sold from $1030 for crossbreds to $2730/unit for Angus.
PTIC cows topped at $1980 for heavy Angus weighing 550kg-plus, while the balance sold from $1370 to $1700.
Two lots of dry cows in very good condition sold for $1530 and $1680/head.
