YOUNG cows with calves hit a high of $3025 a unit and yearling heifers surged to $1755 during the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange, Carcoar, store cattle sale last Friday.
Agents estimated the young cattle were $50 to $70 a head dearer than last month's store sale for the 1850 head offered which was mostly made up of weaners and yearlings.
Heifers, both weaners and yearlings, were the order of the day and generally sold for more money than steers of the same description according to Meat and Livestock Australia data.
Weaner steers less than 280 kilograms (liveweight) ranged from $930 to $1400 and when converted to cents a kilogram one line in this weight range sold for 568c/kg.
The weaner steers tipping the scales between 280kg and 330kg all sold above $1300 and the top pen hit $1480.
Heavier weaner steers, weighing in at more than 330kg, were limited in supply and sold for $1460 to $1530.
Weaner heifers were in solid demand and the limited number of light pens less than 200kg sold from $710 to $940, while those from 200kg to 280kg ranged from $890 to $1200.
The 280kg to 330kg weaner heifers sold from $900 to $1650, while heavier than 330kg ranged from $1410 to $1660.
To be in the market for yearlings, buyers needed at least $1200 a head and competition was solid right across the pens.
Most light yearling steers (less than 330kg) sold for $1040 to $1440, while those from 330kg to 400kg ranged from $1160 to $1640. One pen of heavier yearling (more than 400kg) was knocked down for $1750 a head.
Demand for yearling heifers pushed cents a kilogram prices to 530c/kg and reflected the restocker demand for potential breeders.
Yearling heifers less than 330kg sold from $1075 to $1410, while 330kg to 400kg attracted bid from $1350 to $1660.
A limited number of heavier yearling heifers sold for $1600 to $1755, while similar yearling heifers which were pregnancy-tested-in-calf ranged from $1540 to $1800.
Feedlot buyers were operating and generally paid between $1145 and $1555 for the yearling steers and heifers offered.
PTIC cows sold from $1600 to $2860 with the top pen in cents a kilogram worked out at a very healthy 457c/kg.
The age of the calf seemed to influence the amount restockers were prepared to pay for cow with calf units.
Breaking down the results, cows with calves less than two month sold from $1970 to $3025. The top pen were Angus cows and in cents a kilogram made 582c/kg.
Cows with calves from two to four months returned bids of $2100 to $3000, and a limited number of Hereford cows with calves four to six months made $2600 to $2725.
The sale was conducted by Central Tablelands Livestock Agents Association.
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