A BIG crowd of restockers and feedlotters gathered at the Tamworth Regional Livestock exchange on Friday to get their hands on some of the 2510 cattle on offer.
Pregnancy tested in calf (PITC) heifers made up the majority of the sale, with 1915 up for bids.
However, Garvin and Cousens stock agent Phillip Heatherington said while a run of "ex-stud Limousin cows made a top of $2600 per head", it was steers that stole the show.
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"Top steers reached $2040/hd (a rise of $255/hd from the January 29 sale) for some two-tooth Angus steers off the high country," Mr Heatherington said.
"We're starting to see some very good weaners coming through with six-month-old Angus-cross steers making $1700/hd and Angus steers out of Moree making $1830/hd.
"The best weaner steers made $1830, while most weaner steers sold from $1200-$1500, which was great to see."
Despite a rise in steer prices, PTIC heifers also enjoyed a spike, rising from a top of $2440/hd at the January 29 sale to a top of $2660 on Friday.
It was a similar story across the heifer categories with several strong runs helping prices remain firm
"The heifer market was well represented with some Angus and Santa heifers that were ready to join making a top of $1840," Mr Heatherington said.
"The bulk of the heifers, vealers and yearling weaners made from $1200 to $1450, which was fully firm on previous markets."
Mr Heatherington said competition from restockers helped the cow and calve market remain firm from previous weeks, as 190 cows and calves went up for bids
"Today's cow and calf section saw a good run of second-calf Angus cows and calves, making a top of $3380 (down from $3675 on January 29), while the older cows I think made $3150," he said.
Despite Friday's yarding being down 790 head, Mr Heatherington said competition in the Tamworth market was continuing to grow.
"We had a good contingent of buyers in once again with cattle going to a variety of places such as Gunnedah, Narrabri, Dubbo, the New England region and the Hunter Valley," he said.
"Our next store sale is coming up in a fortnight and we will have some good weaner calves coming on and our major weaner sale will be held on March 26."
- Read the full report in next week's edition of The Land.
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Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
