Store cattle numbers were less than half of the week before at 250 head, though a smaller selection of calves was the main reason behind the fall. A consignment of 365-475kg R2 Hereford-Friesian and Angus-Friesian steers the focal point of the sale, and were all bought at $1050-$1370, $2.81-$2.92/kg. Only a single line of 390kg Murray Grey could do any better at $1160, $2.97/kg.
Some 355-380kg Murray Grey and Simmental-cross topped the R2 heifers at $980-$1020, with the 345-395kg Hereford-Friesians were at $910-$1040. A few 400-415kg Friesian-cross bulls were sold at $1000-$1090, $2.49-$2.63/kg.
Prime steers were sold in two cuts – the beef lines at $2.84-$2.96/kg and the beef-Friesians making $2.70-$2.80/kg. It was similar in the heifers were beef lines were $2.75-$2.88/kg, but other dairy heifers were mixed, maxing out in the $2.60-$2.74/kg range.
It was a straight dairy offering in the prime cows. The core made $1.80-$1.88/ kg, though one 665kg line did push up to $2.09/kg. A few 455- 570kg bulls were $2.72-$2.80/kg
Store lamb numbers fell back to 1600 head which only worked to hold the market firm. You had to look at the tail-enders to find any lambs under $90, and even then the vast majority were sold at $100-$110, with a few heavier lines pushing has high as $116.
Both prime lambs and ewes had a little more volume to them. The lambs were a touch firmer than last week, especially towards the heavier end which were up by $3-$5 per head. Forward store types also sold well. The heavier lambs were $152-$172, with the next cut $130-$147, and most of the rest $110-$129.
The prime ewes were essentially unchanged on a week ago, though there was quite a range of prices paid due to the mixed quality put forward. Generally the very heavy lines were $180-$209, while good ewes were $153-$176, mediums $120-$148 and the rest mainly making more than $70.
