A yarding of 417 head at the Wauchope Stock and Estate Agents' annual steer and bullock sale attracted a bevy of buyers eager to land a bid with the winners going into the business with their eyes wide open.
Older and heavier steers averaged $2000 while milk and two tooth typically made $1500. Weaners were in the order of $1300.
Alan Prior of Bellimbopinni, on the Macleay flats downstream from Kempsey paid the top money for a pen of six and eight tooth Angus, 615kg, for $2260 each, open auction.
Another pen of Hereford cross of the same age he bought for the top money of $2100. Mr Prior came away with 20 in total and will put them on a green cushion of summer couch and kikuyu with a plan to put on another 100kg by the end of May at which time they will go for processing.
"We can expect them to put upwards of 2kg a day and we normally look to sell bullocks at 700kg," he said.
Volume buyer was Owen MacAway, Tia River via Walcha, who landed a bid on 90 head for an average $1800 and will keep them for 12 to 18 months before bringing them to finishing weight on grass.
Included in his muster were 27 milk tooth Hereford, 420kg, sold by Ross Dennes, Hartys Plains, bred at Thone River and sired by Curracabark Hereford bulls, for $2040.
Gus and Gail Rayner, Bellingen, bought a truck and trailer load - nearly a two dozen - including Charolais cross for $2120 and Santa Gertrudis cross for $2000.
"The secret is to keep trading," he said. "And we're in no hurry to get rid of them. We'll keep them 12 months and maybe put 200 to 250kg on them. By keeping them longer we don't have to keep replacing cattle."
Peter and Leonie Fletcher, retired dairy farmers from Rollands Plains who now farm 30 hectares of flood flats just outside Wauchope have a farm routine that includes planting winter feed and letting summer grass excel - particularly this season. They let their cattle sleep by the house and muster on foot, with half an orange in their outstretched palms.
"I cut them that way so they don't choke," explains Mr Fletcher.
Their pen of two and four tooth Santa Gertrudis and Hereford cross brought $2060, also going up the Oxley Highway to Tia River, while a pen of their two and four tooth Murray Grey sold for $1600.
Hayden Robinson, Byabarra, bought weaned Angus off Long Flat paddocks for $1580 (200kg) and shrugged the cost of buying in and will proceed with his annual plan which includes a winter crop for finishing feed and an 18 month to two year window to complete the job.
"If the price drops when I go to resell them I'll buy back in at less money," he said. "I've never seen anyone do any good with empty paddocks."
Six tooth Hereford/Brahman steers off Toms Creek sold for $2120.
Angus 4-5 months, $1400 (150kg)
Hereford steers 10-12 months sold for $1660.
Comboyne Holstein steers, 16 months, made $1380.
A Jersey cross steer dragged the chain at $510, going to Jessie Stokes, 19, who leases country downriver and is working to inspire young graziers to have a go in the game.
More on that in next week's paper.
