Wet conditions locally and further south is keeping the market in check, and prices eased on the previous sale.
Good quality R2 Angus-Hereford and Hereford-cross steers ranged from $2.80-$2.85/kg, with $2.75-$2.78/kg common for crossbred lines. Ayrshire sold for $2.58/kg to tidy up the section. With no bulls offered, the sale moved onto the heifers, though numbers were light in these pens. Beef heifers returned $2.60/kg, while a consignment of 30-40 empty Friesian and Friesian-cross sold at expected levels of $2.20-$2.40/kg.
R1 numbers were limited, and Angus and beef-cross steers fetched $3.40/kg, though heifers proved to be harder to move, with $2.80-$2.90/kg the money. Bulls were also mainly beef-cross and traded at $3.15-$3.20/kg. The sale perked up when the autumn-born cattle entered the rostrum, with a nice quality line up of Friesian bulls, 140-160kg, selling freely at $650-$690, and 100-120kg, $560-$610. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 100-110kg, returned $500, with lighter types at $400-$450.
Cow numbers were limited to medium Friesian and beef at $1.80-$1.90/kg.
The new selling facilities for feeder calves is working well, and around 200 head sold undercover. Top Friesian bulls made $180, with Hereford-Friesian returning $200-$220.
