RECENT rainfall caused the total yarding at Tamworth's fortnightly store sale to decrease from 2000 at the June 18 sale to about 1700.
Friday's sale may have been restricted to essential personnel due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it did not limit competition from restockers and feedlotters bidding online.
Steers made up the majority of the market with 1100 going up for bids with prices up from last months sale to average around $1500 a head.
The Hurley family of Vena Park, Wallabadah topped the weaner steer market at $1890, while the cheapest steers on the day sold for about $1000.
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Tamworth stock agent Chris Paterson said the high-quality of the yarding caused prices to rise from the last sale on June 18.
"There was some good-quality cattle throughout the yarding, but there was some that were showing the winter effects as well," Mr Paterson said.
"However, the high-quality cattle that were there sold really well.
"I'd say prices were dearer than last sale and while it is a bit hard to tell but the better end of the weaners would have been another $20 or $30 dearer."
Heifers were the next biggest category with 600 on offer with prices ranging from a top of $1650 for a run of Angus cross heifers from David Heath, Gunnedah, to $1000 with most bringing around $1350.
Pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) cows were also in high demand as prices ranged from $2800 to $1800.
Of the 400 PTIC cows on offer, an impressive run of four- to six-year-old Angus cows offered by the Bykowski family of Bendemeer, which were pregnant to an Angus bull, fetched $2800.
Other strong performances in the category included a run of PTIC Charolais heifers offered by the Namoi Partnership, Gunnedah, which sold for $2375.
Younger PTIC cows brought $1800, while most went for around $2200.
Mr Paterson said the result was made even more impressive because the top-selling cows and calves, also offered by the Bykowskies went for $3150.
"Some of the cows had already calved and they went for about $3000, so they were a very impressive run," he said.
"There were some pretty good lines of PTIC cows making from $2400 to $2500, so there was pretty good competition."
The cow with calf market was the smallest category of the sale with just 100 on offer but Mr Paterson said prices were still quite strong.
"There wasn't too many in because of the time of year but I think most would have sold from $2600 to $2900 mark depending on the quality," he said.
"Given the top was just over $3000, it shows you that those other cows and calves weren't too far off the pace."
The sale was conducted by the Tamworth Livestock Selling Agents Association.
- 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.
