More than 250 straight-beef R3 steers were a feature of the day, but their numbers attracted enough interest to ward off any weakness. The 545-655kg pens were nearly all $2.93-$3.00/kg, but three 460-520kg pens made a little extra at $3.07-$3.13/kg.
R2 steers were out in numbers too at 370 head. Angus and Charolais, 370-405kg, were $3.08-$3.26/kg, falling to $3.00-$3.02/kg for 430-520kg Angus. Weights didn’t matter too much in the Hereford-Friesians who were making $2.70-$2.79/kg for 375-645kg. Straight beef and beef-Friesian heifers, 375-425kg, were all $2.65-$2.73/kg. R2 Friesian bulls were $2.74-$2.76/kg for 465-470kg, and $2.88-$2.90/kg for 420-430kg. A mixture of beef-cross bulls were all below this but where often shorter on quality too.
R1 Friesian bulls were available in decent sized lines, with 210-245kg pens making $700-$770. Some 170-220kg beef-cross steers were $650-$730.
Scanned-in-lamb ewes were a feature of the sheep section again, tallying up to just under 2500 head. Lines with decent quality and scanning 160% or more made $174-$190, though a line scanning triplets took top dollar at $198. Other pens were largely $150-$171. There was little difference in terms of price between 5-year and mixed age pens.
Store lamb numbers fell back fairly heavily, and what was yarded was clearly showing the signs of the winter weather to date. Good and heavy male and cryptorchid lambs were $131-$156, dropping to $112.50-$137 for medium lines. Ewe lambs were as strong as ever, clocking in just below the males. The heavier ewes lambs were $129-$139, good lines made $108-$125.50 and anything else half-decent made $99-$114. Mixed sex pens were quite varied, but some heavy pens were $125-$135.50.
