Values continue to be steady for mixed quality store cattle at Wodonga when 2444 head were yarded on Thursday.
The offering was dominated by Angus cattle, and the sale featured lines of cattle which would not normally be available for sale but for the drought and the uncertain outlook for an autumn break.
Heavier weaner steers sold from $960 to $665 while the few heavier yearling steers peaked at $1260 for one Angus with most selling in the range $1170 to $990.
The few pens of heavier weaner heifers sold from $850 to $735 with the better pens only being sold due to the drought.
There were lines of cows with calves only offered due to reduction of stock numbers or the termination of property lease and most presented in store condition with fresh calves.
Values ranged from $1140 to $660, while prices for PTIC cows varied from $920 to $525.
Indicative sales of weaner steers included 21 nine to 10 months Angus weighing 328kg sold by J.A and S Sargeant, Table Top for $945: M.S and J.M Merkel, Talgarno, Victoria sold nine Angus weighing 305 kg for $840 and Romargen Pty Ltd, Adelong sold 30 Herefords, Greenhills-blood and weighing 301kg sold for $720.
Among the older steers, P and E Howell, Myrtleford, Vic sold 23 Angus weighing 373kg for $1050 and W and B Schulz, Burrumbuttock sold 10 Angus weighing 426kg for $1170.
Values for weaner heifers were steady and included 18 Huon-blood Charolais weighing 375kg for $815 and J.M Star Trust, Granya, Vic sold 21 Angus weighing 421kg for $700.
Lines of cows with calves included the herd reduction of Herefords by Ross Nixon, Rand who sold eight cows with first calves and rejoined for $780.
Speaking after the sale, Paull and Scollard Landmark livestock agent Tim Robinson said it was a strong market with more confidence than could be reasonably expected during the drought.
"There were a lot of light and immature cattle here … as we know they are only here for one reason, they would generally never leave the property until grown out to feeder weights for feedlots," he said.
"We also had a lot of females here which would normally have been retained."
Successful buyers from Tasmania, Holbrook Wangaratta, Benalla and Corowa competed with a few local restockers while processors operated on the few available pens suitable for slaughter.
A truck load of steers was sent to the western districts of Victoria through the Ray White Livestock network.
Wodonga agents Elders and Paull and Scollard Landmark conducted the sale.