A YARDING of high-quality weaner steers were a highlight of Thursday's Bega store cattle sale, reaching a top of $2400 a head.
The top selling eight-to-10-month-old Limousin-cross steers, which weighed about 400kg on average, were offered by the Sutherland family, Yowrie, and were a standout of the yarding of 1300 head.
Most heavier steers in the category sold from $2000/hd to $2250 with other highlights including a run of 16 Simmental-Angus cross steers offered by of W.H Salway, Cobargo, which sold for $2,390.
Also nearing the top of the steer category were drafts of Angus and Black Baldy steers offered by B.B McCosker, Yowrie, and B.N Hergenhan, Bega, which sold for $2070 and $2090 respectively.
Yearling steers ranged from about $2000 to $2250 while topping at a category high of $2590.
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Bega stock agent Jason Gannon, Chester and Smith Pty Ltd, said the quality of heavier steers at this month's sale was exceptional, due to ample feed being on offer across the district.
"It was an excellent yarding with strong competition from buyers in attendance, who had come from places like Braidwood, Moruya, Camden, Moss Vale, as well as locally," Mr Gannon said.
"Weaner steers sold really well, with most pens selling from $2000 to $2350.
"Meanwhile, younger steers sold from about $1700 to $2000.
"There's plenty of weight on the steers at the moment just due to the season and the quality of the yarding really reflected in the prices."
Heifer prices were also strong at Thursday's sale, with a draft of nine Angus heifers offered by V. Mawhinney, Bega, a highlight of the category selling for $2010.
"Non-station mated heifers topped at $2520, while weaner heifers topped at $2400," Mr Gannon said.
"Most heifers sold pretty well, ranging from about $1550 to $1700 and up to around $2000 depending on age."
Thursday's sale included a small offering of pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows, which sold to a top of $3000 a unit.
The cows with calves category was also down in numbers but still managed to reach a top of $3700 a unit.
"It was a really strong sale across the board and while there wasn't a lot of PTIC cows or cows with calves, what was there still sold quite well," Mr Gannon said.
Processors and restockers were active during the sale, which was conducted by Bega agents Pell Rixon and Chester and Smith Pty Ltd.
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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.
