Prime and older cattle generally sold to firm demand and an emerging grass market helped maintain store cattle prices. Boner cows eased noticeably.
There were few prime cattle. Ten good Angus, 604kg, sold for $2.93/kg, three good Hereford-Friesian heifers, 620kg, $2.94/kg. The stand-out in the 2-year steer section was a line of 15 Hereford-Friesian, 398kg, which were fought over by two keen bidders and made an impressive $3.54/kg. Most, 370-476kg, earned $2.73-$2.89/kg. Two-year heifers were light in number but some Charolais-Hereford, 470kg, fetched a solid $2.96/kg.
Yearlings largely sold on par. Most steers, 257-283kg, returned $800-$930. Seventeen yearling Friesian bulls, 230kg, fetched $725. There were few heifers. Friesian boner cows, 470-534kg, made up most of the offering and eased to sell for $1.64-$1.76/kg.
A very small offering of sheep met with limited interest. One store lamb and one hogget sold together for $100 each. Prime lambs fetched $111-$122, prime ewes $74-$79.50. The remaining hoggets made $92. One pen of ewes with lambs at foot managed $54.50 all-counted.
