A DUBBO saleyards record was broken when Angus cows with calves hit $4170 a unit at Dubbo store cattle sale last Friday.
The sale was the first store sale conducted at Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets since August, when the fortnightly store sale was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
With recent rainfall, the yarding fell to 1100 head (2830 head on August 6) while the market was dearer in all aspects.
There was a strong turnout of buyers, with many from Forbes, Carcoar and the Central Tablelands, along with good local support.
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Weaner steers and heifer sold to very strong competition with the steers selling from $980 for Holsteins to $2240 for good quality Angus calves.
Weaner steers less than 200kg sold from $1040 to $1800. The top end of the market was much dearer than on August 6, where lightweight weaners topped at $1300.
The price surge was highlighted by the cents a kilogram price which topped at 1091c/kg for Angus weaners.
Weaner steers from 200kg to 280kg were also dearer and sold from $980 to $2040.
The 280kg to 330kg weaner steer prices were higher too, hitting a top of $2160 for Angus types, while the cheapest lines were $1900 British-crosses.
Heavier weaner steers that tipped the scales at more than 330kg sold from $980 to $2240.
Sally McGlashan and Rob Matthews, Dubbo, sold the top pen of weaner steers ($2240) which were eight- to 10-month-old Angus.
Weaner heifers were also in hot demand.
They sold from $760 for light Santa Gertrudis calves to $2050 for good quality Angus heifers.
Light weaner heifers (less than 200kg) topped at $1730 for a line of C2 Bos Indicus-crosses.
Meanwhile weaner heifers between 200kg and 280kg sold from $1010 to $1820, while those more than 330kg sold from $1390 to $2050.
One pen of D3 Bos-Indicus-cross yearling heifers more than 400kg sold for $1150.
Meanwhile there were 49 pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers which sold between $1200 and $2375. The majority of those were Braford types.
PTIC cows were also snapped up at prices between $1530 for Hereford/ Angus units and $3350 for Angus types.
Topping the market was a draft of 25 Noonee-blood Angus cows with four- to six-month-old calves and pregnancy tested back in calf. They were sold by John Tucker, Geurie, for $4170, setting a record for the selling centre.
A small line of Santa Gertrudis cows with their first, younger calves sold for $4000/unit.
The sale was conducted by Dubbo Stock and Station Agents Pty Ltd.
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