Tamworth store sale prices remain firm in yarding of 3400 head

The fortnightly store sale was up from the previous 2100 head and agents predicted the market had remained firm with the offering featuring lighter type cattle.

There was value in the cow and calf offering where prices were slightly softer.

While records were broken when Speckle Park units from Jeff and Kerry Etheridge, Red Rock, reached $3650, a line of Angus cows with Simmental cross calves from Brian Filby, Grovelands, Currabubula were seen as a bargain buy at $3125/unit with other vendors making $2775.

Heifers were again the flavour and peaked at $1810/hd for Queensland bred crossbred cattle on account of Windsor sold by McCulloch Agencies.

Not far behind at a $1790/hd average for 44 Angus yearling heifers was Julie and Stephen Felton, Roseneath, Bendemeer sold through Ian Morgan Livestock.

Back to 100 Angus breeders from their normal 200, the pair opted to capitalise on the strong market.

"We would normally breed them but it's just too good to hang on to them," Mr Felton said.

"You could have knocked me over with a feather, it's fantastic money.

"It's a fantastic price but you take the average over the last couple...we needed this great sale to give us some more confidence."

The yarding featured about 1500 steers which topped at $1920/hd for older bullocks from Elders but the large majority of yearlings ranged from $1200 to $1500/hd and younger steers made between $1000 and $1200/hd.

There were some bargain buys in the steers too.

Droughtmaster and Shorthorn cross weaner steers from Farrer Pastoral Company that had returned from agistment in Nyngan made $770/hd while Charbray and Charolais infused grey Brahman steers from Barry Smith Transport, Dirranbandi, Qld, made anywhere from $700 to $1180/hd.

The line of 250 steers and 250 heifers had been purchased as cows and calves from north Queensland before they were weaned and spent the last 10 weeks at Dungowan.

In a week where many store sales had been smaller, Nutrien Tamworth agent Simon Rafferty said TRLX had a good reputation as a source for big yardings.

"Cattle come in from far and wide; there are these Dirranbandi cattle, a lot of cattle are coming over and making the trip over from the coast and from the greater area to where the grass is green and there are plenty of orders," he said.

"There is no set rule anymore (as to when people are turning off). I think all the rules have been broken with the drought and the good season and the high prices. It's just week by week at the moment.

"There's no big volume orders, just a lot of bits and pieces. Everyone wants something."

Ian Morgan of Ian Morgan Livestock spoke to the Tamworth Livestock Selling Agents Association's Facebook page and said there was a high level of confidence in the market.

"A lot of our vendors purchased back in that May, June, July period and they are being sold now for very strong values and some pretty respectable margins," he said.

"They are moving back into the market here and providing a level of strength."

Read the full report in next week's edition of The Land.