PRICES were dearer again even though the quality was plainer during the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange, Carcoar, store cattle sale last Friday.
The bulk of the 1844 head yarding were heavy weaners and Meat and Livestock Australia market reporter Graeme Richard said numbers were back compared with the July store sale.
"The quality was plainer, with most of the weaners looking wintry and lacking bloom and freshness, but this did not deter buyers and resulted in a dearer market," he said.
Weaner steers up to 200kg mostly sold from $700 to $1775 a head. The top of this weight range was up significantly compared with last month's sale, where they hit a high of $1480.
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The 200kg to 280kg weaner steers ranged from $1000 to $1810, and the 280kg to 330kg weights made $1610 to $2000.
The heavier weaner steers tipping the scales at more than 330kg sold from $1640 to $2105.
Only two pens of weaner heifers weighing less than 200kg were offered and they ranged from $1190 to $1300, which was much dearer than last sale.
Weaner heifers from 200kg to 280kg ranged from $1090 to $1650, and the 280kg to 330kg weights made $1450 to $1820.
The heavier weaner heifers weighing more than 330kg sold from $1090 to $1840.
Feeder-type steers were as rare as hen's teeth and those up to 400kg sold from $1685 to $1760, while steers more than 400kg attracted bids from $1915 to $2200.
The feedlots picked up heifers tipping the scales between 320kg and 400kg for $1690 to $1840.
Yearling steers sold from $2000 to $2120, although there were only a few pens from which to choose. About 100 yearling heifers mostly sold from $1640 to $1840.
Swan Ponds Cattle Company, Woodstock, sold the top of the PTIC heifers for $2325 via Tablelands Rural Agency. The pen of six were Angus-cross.
Pregnancy-tested-in-calf females were also limited in the yarding and most sold from $1900 to $2800, which was cheaper than last month's sale.
Cows with calves were once again in demand from restockers and prices ranged from $1800 to $3100 for units with calves less than two months old.
Cows with two- to four-month-old calves sold from $1650 to $3790.
The top cow with calf pen were Angus sold by Troy Fitzpatrick, Oberon, via Ray White Emms Mooney, Blayney.
One pen of PTIC Hereford cows with older calves were offered and that sold for $3325 a unit.
The sale was conducted by Central Tablelands Livestock Agents Association.
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