QUALITY lines of well-bred cattle among the 2000-head yarding at Dunedoo store cattle sale last Friday, met strong competition from restockers and feedlots seeking replacement cattle and willing to pay the higher prices currently being demanded through the live open auction system.
The offering of 200 spring 2019-drop Angus steers of Eaglehawk-blood blood, being part of the annual young cattle clearance of the Halsted family, Hampshire Station, Merriwa, were eagerly sought after by lot feeders who paid to a top of $2220 for the first pen while the second cut sold at just under $2000 a head.
Strong buying support came from the local district and Dubbo with eager competition of buyers from Bathurst, Orange, Mudgee, Scone and the Northern Tablelands.
Co-vendor, PT Lord Dakin, Dubbo agent, Mark Garland, said there was a very solid market for the good quality cattle on offer, a trend the monthly Dunedoo sale was continuing to establish.
"These better quality cattle sold on a very solid market," Mr Garland said. "However, the secondary cattle might have met a little softer trend, which I believe is due to the way the season is turning.
"Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we should benefit from some good precipitation."
"The outstanding run of Angus weaner and yearling cattle resulted in weaner steers making up to $1870 and it was very hard to buy a good quality Angus steer weaner under $1500."
Milling Stuart's Angus Stuart said Hereford steers calves and Euro steer calves sold very well from $1550 up to $1860. Lightweight Angus steers made from $950 to $1250 and little crossbred calves $920 to $1000.
Best of the cows with calves section was the offering of 22 Poll Hereford/Braford composite cows with calves at foot which topped the sale at $3525a unit for Wayne and Sylvia Mawbey, Carnie Hill, Wongarbon.
A line of Angus three-in-one cows, calves and PTIC, sold from $3300 to $3350 a unit, while the general run of cow/calf units made from $2000 to $2400.
Dry Hereford cows PTIC made $2500 while two pens of Angus PTIC red-taggers made from $2250 and $2300.