Light-medium primes sold from $150 and store lambs made $90-$141. Ewe prices were also strong. The top prime ewes earned $190 and good-medium, $140-$173.
Steer and heifer prices lifted by 10c/kg at last Wednesday’s prime cattle sale, although numbers were fairly limited. The best of the prime steers, a 720kg Hereford-Friesian lot, sold at $3.15/kg, with good trade steers making $2.85-$3.04/kg. Heavy heifers, 450-550kg, traded at $2.90-$3.05/kg and exotic beef cows, 745kg, $2.68/kg. Heavy, well-conditioned Friesian cows fetched up to $2.24/kg, and lighter boners sold from $1.70/kg.
Another small yarding meant last Thursday’s store cattle sale was over fairly quickly, but with spring just around the corner and a reasonable bench of buyers on hand, the market for the better cattle was firm.
The yarding included a wide range of smaller lots. Most of the good Hereford-Friesian R2 steers, 400-450kg, traded at $3.00-$3.13/kg. Weaner steers were in short supply. Red-bodied Hereford-Friesian, 107kg, made $550.
Heifer prices were strong. Good R1 Angus, 345kg, made $3.06/kg, $1055, and lighter Hereford-Friesian, 186kg, $740.
