About 400 steers and heifers were on offer, Kane Needham of PGG Wrightson reported, and buyer anticipation of the spring grass market contributed to a buoyant sale.
The steer section included a pen of 460kg Hereford-Friesian, which traded at $2.80/kg, with Shorthorn, 433kg, making $2.86/kg, and 385kg Hereford-Friesian, $2.96/kg.
The yarding featured a good line-up of R1 steers, mostly Hereford-Friesian, and prices lifted. Hereford-Friesian, 247kg, made $880 and another pen at 180kg, $775.
In the heifer section, 388-440kg Hereford-Friesian earned $2.93-$2.94/kg. Good R1 heifers of same breeding and 198-214kg made $745-$740, and 181kg, $700.
The market at last Wednesday’s prime sale was also strong, with steers and heifers up 10c/kg and the better cattle surpassing $3.00/kg. Heavy steers traded at $3.00-$3.10/kg, medium $2.94-$2.98/kg, and lighter $2.88-$2.93/kg. Heavy prime heifers fetched $2.93-$3.00/kg, medium $2.88-$2.92/kg, and lighter beef heifers $2.82-$2.87/kg. In-calf cows sold at $2.22-$2.42/kg and well-conditioned empty Friesian, $2.05-$2.20/kg. Medium Friesian earned $1.90-$2.00/kg, and lighter boners $1.75-$1.87/kg.
About 350 cattle were presented.
Prices lifted again at last Monday’s sheep sale. The best of the prime lambs returned $180-$201, good-medium $150-$175, and lighter $130-$145. Good store lambs traded at $110-$125, and medium $90-$110. The heaviest of the prime ewes fetched $160-$190, and medium $110-$135. Even light ewes sold well, making $85-$100.
About 1200 ewes and lambs were yarded.
