Tamworth store sale cheaper as Queensland buyers stay away

The exception to the cheaper trend were young cattle in the 280 to 330 kilogram band which become firmer to dearer as the sale progressed.

Cattle were offered from as far west as Quambone, Moss Vale, Dorrigo, Hernani, Tabulam, Gunnedah, Armidale, Manilla, and local producers.

The buying support came from producers with good crops of forage oats in the Gunnedah, Manilla and Narrabri districts and from backgrounders.

While Queensland buyers from areas such as Goondiwindi, Tara, and Meandarra had been active the previous day at Inverell, none were active at Tamworth.

Meat and Livestock Australia market reporter Stephen Adams said the light weaner steers mainly sold to cheaper trends, with a large draft of Charolais weaners losing $130 a head and black baldy weaners slipping $190.

Weaner steers less than 200kg topped at $490, while those from 200kg to 280kg attracted bids from $390 to $1170.

The 280kg to 330kg weaner steers ranged from $740 to $1260.

Weaner heifers tipping the scales at less than 200kg sold between $305 and $5490, while the 200kg to 280kg lines sold for $370 to $950.

Weaner heifers weighing between 280kg and 330kg sold for $770 to $1100.

Yearling steers weighing up to 330kg ranged from $650 to $1310 and those from 330kg to 400kg made $650 to $1340.

Yearling heifers hit $1250 for only a few pens offered.

Pregnancy-tested-in-calf females were limited in supply and topped at $1525 for well-bred Angus heifers. Cows with calves ranged from $1155 to $1925.

Jason and Lisa Sheather, Valhalla, Somerton, were buying steers to put on around 400 hectares of forage oats ready to graze. They bought a pen of 18 Brangus steers offered by PDG Partnership for $780.

Mr Sheather said the Brangus steers gave a better bang for their buck and worked harder for them. They also run Brangus cows on a Hermidale property.

"They are a cross that has always been kind to us, even in the toughest of times," Mr Sheather said.

The second pen off the rank was Rob and Gwen Etheridge's Wiranya Pty Ltd, Tamaresque, Barraba, which sold a pen of seven Angus steers, sired by Bowen and Ben Nevis bulls, for $750

Brian Lakin, Calala had a mix of heavier steers that would have cut their teeth go under the hammer. Three Charolais steers made $1300, three Angus steers made $1340 and eight Hereford steers in good order made $1290.

"I bought these steers nine months ago and have been running them on our place near Calala with the Goonoo Goonoo Creek running through it," he said.

"They have had plenty of good water and feed. The Herefords were little doggy, light steers, but they've grown out really well."

Walmar, Kootingal, sold a pen of 15 Angus steers for $940 and another pen of 11 for $890, while Dunlea and Jeffrey, Mossvale, sold a pen of eight Angus steers for $1200. another pen of 12 made $1020.

AJ and DC Dougherty, Tabulum, sold a pen of 13 Angus cross steers for $900 and a lighter pen of 13 Angus cross for $790.

Angus heifers, pregnancy-tested-in-calf to Keringa Angus bulls for Spring calving, were sold by Locksley Station, Quambone, for $1410, while empty heifers from the same vendor made $1260.

Locksley Station, Quambone sent in several pens of mixed steers. A pen of 13 Angus topped their draft at $1090, while a pen of nine Euro cross made $800. Lighter Angus steers made $700 for a pen of eight, while 10 Hereford lighter steers made $600. Kurrajong Park, Uralla also offered a pen of seven light Hereford steers that made $260.

Angus heifers, pregnancy-tested-in-calf to Keringa Angus bulls for Spring calving, were sold by Locksley Station, Quambone, for $1410, while empty heifers from the same vendor made $1260.

Ross Hill Pastoral Company, Bundarra, sold a pen of 20 Booroomooka blood steers for $970. In contrast, Dellow Holdings, Hernani Station, Hernani, sold a pen of 10 Charolais steers for $950 and a lighter pen of 14 for $870.