Colin Say and Co yarded 2800 head of cattle at their premier weaner sale on Friday, part of the two day RMA Network selling extravaganza on the Northern Tablelands.
Steers, 1984 head, most of them Angus and many of them late calvers - a hangover of drought - averaged 596c/kg for 295kg or $1758.
Ben Wirth, Glen Elgin sold the pen of the top priced steers, EU accredited, 410kg at 514c/kg or $2107 for milk tooth calves 11-13 months going to Stockyard Beef's Kerwee feedlot, Jondaryan, Qld.
Commission buyer David Gillett, Grafton, said he bought 200 head for Kerwee and considered Mr Wirth's steers the best of an extraordinary yarding.
Hereford steers weren't far behind, reaching a top of $1988 for 410kg at 485c/kg, EU accredited from Roger Kneipp, Echo Park, Dundee, bought through Ray White Glen Innes and headed to a paddock of oats at Barraba, then destined for a premium grass fed market.
The champion pen of cross bred steers, EU accredited Santa Gertrudis/Hereford nine months old from Rob Drew, Camlea, Glencoe, 336kg, made 570c/kg or $1914 also headed to Barraba.
Mr Drew's Angus/Hereford calves, 299kg sold for 596c/kg or $1779 going to Wickham Farms.
Champion Angus weaner steers were awarded to repeat winners Gordon and Sally Wollen, Buckandor, 399kg at 528 cents a kilogram or $2105 going to Rangers Valley feedlot.
Like all the breeders selling on the day they were rewarded handsomely for maintaining their herd through the stress of drought at a sale where commission buyers and restockers fought with a frenzy to secure the right article.
James Gresham, Glen Elgin, destocked by 30pc in the drought and now has feed coming out of his fences but was pleased to be able to take advantage of the amazing prices on offer by selling EU accredited Angus steers 315kg for 590c/kg or $1862 to Wickham Farms, Killarney, Qld. He sold another pen 250kg for 658c/kg or $1646 to Budge Friend, Glencoe.
"To stay EU accredited is no extra load to carry," he said. "It's just another box to tick."
Mr Gresham's calves, along with about half the yarding, were also vaccinated with Bov-Shield for respiratory illness - prevalent in the feedlot environment - through a half priced deal struck between Colin Say and Co and manufacturers Zeotis.
Rob and Cathy Wheatley, Rosedale, Deepwater, sold Angus 292kg at 602c/kg or $1760.
Valma Partnership, Marouan Creek, sold Angus 387kg for 540c/kg or $2091 going to Coonamble through AJF Brien and Sons.
John and Bonnie Jamel, Malboona, sold Angus steers 10 months old, 364kg at 542c/kg or $1975.
The Anderson family, Ilparan, sold Angus steers 359kg for 530c/kg or $1902, also going to Kerwee feedlot. The family bought back in paying $1778 for Angus heifers from Rosedale, 285kg at 624c/kg.
Top priced pen of light Angus steers from George Melling, Bulwarra, 207kg made 748c/kg going to a local restocker through Auctions Plus.
Bernie and Leanne Grogan, Goombridge Swamp sold Santa/Hereford 338kg, for 540c/kg or $1823 going to Wickham Farms.
Heifers, 865 head, averaged 607.2c/kg for 264kg or $1602 and attracted the greatest restocker interest. There were with multiple bids for Angus heifers from Hoppe Partnership, Glen Legh Station, 244kg reaching 656c/kg or $1603.
Winner Leonie Pettit, the daughter of former The Land journalist Chris Pettit, had time to calculate on her smart phone before nodding her way to success.
The only pen of non-vendor-bred Angus heifers nearly ready for joining at 385kg from the Henwood family at Grong Grong via West Wyalong made 496c/kg or $1909 going to fill a paddock at Deepwater through CL Squires.
Late calving Hereford heifers born in November from Echo Park made 640c/kg for 180kg or $1152, selling on Auctions Plus.
Angus from the Alt brothers, Springvale, made $1642 for 274kg at 600c/kg going onto grass at the Gwyder Valley near Uralla.
Stroane Partnership, Mt Mitchell, sold Santa/Hereford heifers to Walcha through Boultons for 254kg for 646c/kg or $1642.
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