Just over 2000 prime hoggets were penned and prices came back around $10. One line of 38 made it to $192, but most very heavy types sold for $180-$186. Most other types made $160-$176, with the third cuts earning $130-$159.
The ewe market held up well with good buyer attendance. A run of very heavy ewes sold for $210-$270, while most other lines were evenly spread between $90 up to $198.
Store hoggets lost both volume and price as 500 head sold on an easing market. The mainly fine wool line-up featured good Merino mixed sex at $150 and heavy ewe hoggets, $152.
In the cattle pens the bulk of the cows were Friesian or Friesian-cross, and all eased by 10c/kg. Across all weights penned $1.74-$1.84/kg covered all bar the odd line, and that was the upper limit of buyer budgets. Hereford cows, 540-675kg, also eased to $1.88-$1.95/kg.
Boner heifers went some way to regain ground lost as these were the one positive of the sale. Heavier types, 496-605kg, firmed to $2.51-$2.64/kg, while 455-485kg returned $2.37-$2.46/kg.
Angus steers, 621-655kg, made a premium over similar weighted Hereford at $2.87-$2.96/kg, but no other lines managed to surpass $2.90/kg. Beef-cross, 475-670kg, eased to $2.77/kg, with Friesian and Friesian-cross at $2.65-$2.80/kg for 525-755kg.
Heifers lost similar ground as Hereford-cross, 500-695kg, returned $2.65-$2.70/kg, and local trade types, $2.60-$2.68/kg. Bull mainly traded at $2.37-$2.51/kg.
Nearly 1400 cattle was a big ask for auctioneers, and vendors met the market at reduced levels.
Two-year steers eased by the smallest degree out of any sections, losing around 8c/kg. Hereford-Friesian, 340-415kg, managed $2.91-$2.99/kg, though most lines traded at $2.74-$2.80/kg, while Friesian, 472-531kg, fetched $2.56-$2.58/kg. Heifers fell by 18c/kg and ten Angus, 444kg, only made $2.78/kg, while Hereford-Friesian, 350-365kg, came back to $2.77-$2.81/kg. Heavier heifers of same breeding returned $2.45-$2.56/kg.
A huge entry of yearlings was spread across all classes, including 250 bulls. These proved to be very hard as the better beef and exotic reached just $2.60-$2.73/kg, while Friesian, 259-290kg, only made $2.10-$2.12/kg. Lighter lines, 210-250kg, eased to $2.54-$2.64/kg.
Traditional steers went some way to right the market as a few lines traded at $3.30-$3.46/kg, and a standout consignment of Hereford-Friesian, 260-281kg, reached $3.19-$3.31/kg. They were very much in the minority and beef-Friesian steers lost 10c/kg with 235-250kg averaging $2.93/kg.
Heifers reduced by similar levels to the steers, and followed a similar pattern. Hereford, 234-319kg, sold for $2.95-$3.01/kg, and a few lines of Hereford-Friesian, 220-230kg, managed $2.97-$2.99/kg, but most other lines from 164kg up to 300kg traded at $2.70-$2.85/kg.