NUMBERS increased significantly at the Tamworth store sale last Friday, attracting the largest spread of buyers and cattle the fortnightly fixture has recorded in some time.
Nutrien Livestock agent Scott Simshauser, Tamworth, said buyers arrived with intent, they knew what they wanted and they acted accordingly.
A total of 2500 head were yarded, up by 700 head on the previous sale.
Elders agent Nathan McConnell, Tamworth, said the majority of those were females, the best of which fetched big price increases.
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It was a draft of young Angus cows with six- to seven-month-old calves that topped the market at $4000 a unit, up from $3325 on the previous sale.
They were offered by Koolewong Grazing, Winton, and sold by Purtle Plevey Agencies, Manilla.
A second draft of Angus first-calvers offered by S and D Bruce through Elders were sold for $3725.
A line of Poll Hereford cows with black Santa Gertrudis calves offered by Arthur Hupp of Willala, Boggabri, were also sold for $3300.
Meanwhile, the best of the pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows and heifers sold to a dearer trend.
A draft of Angus-cross cows PTIC to a Glenmorgan Angus bull offered by Marwarra sold for $3200, up from $2825 on the previous sale.
Also in the mix were Santa Gertrudis/Simmental heifers PTIC to a Kilburnie Angus bull offered by Howard Webster, Niangala, which sold for $2600.
The prices for unjoined heifers were steady.
Scone bred Charolais-cross heifers went back to the paddock at $1960, while a draft of Ben Nevis, Booromooka and Trio-blood Angus heifers offered by the Parry Trust, Willow Tree, were sold for $1950.
Mr McConnell said although the market held firm, there was still value to be had. He said there were plenty of plainer Euro-cross heifers that had made between $1200 and $1300, creating an affordable option for the local restocker group.
Steer prices also held firm.
A draft of Santa-cross weaners offered by Gary Mitchell, Tamworth, sold for $1970, while Angus yearling steers offered by Kevin and Mary-Ellen Schwager, Narrabri, sold for $2020.
Mr McConnell said seasonal conditions had been very good across much of the north west, but rain predicted to fall later in the week would bring welcome reassurance to producers.
"Any rain would be a blessing," Mr McConnell said.
"At the moment it's looking green, but we need about another inch."
Stock went to the Hunter, south to Bathurst and north to southern Queensland. Tamworth Livestock Selling Agents conducted the sale.
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