With 2119 head penned for the regular store sale at Wodonga, it would be fair to say it was a mixed presentation with few pens across all categories in strong condition.
There was a big tail in the offering with many cattle showing the effect of a very tough season, not only in the north-east of Victoria and southern Riverina, but also in northern NSW from where significant numbers were penned hoping to attract a premium value.
The sale was quoted overall as firm for the better types, by Corcoran Parker Wodonga director Justin Keane.
"We saw the very good lines of cattle getting full value, but there wasn't a huge supply of quality weaners and they sold fully firm on the last market," he said.
"The out of condition cattle made good money considering they were very light."
Weaner steers sold from $1150 to $450 a head, while grown steers ranged in price from $1060 to $1315.
Heifers ranged from $575 to $1080, while pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows sold to $1600 and cows with calves sold from $1020 to $1620.
Top price in the weaner steers was $1150, paid for the pen of 26 Riga and Witherswood-blood Angus weighing 369kg when offered by Peter and Helen Kirkbride, Baddaginnie, NSW.
Purchased by repeat buyers, Mr Kirkbride said the steers weighed a little heavier than last year and they liked to sell at this sale to lighten their country over the summer.
"We want to keep our ground cover, and with the dry season we didn't think the steers would get any heavier," he said.
Mr and Mrs Kirkbride said they had retained all their heifers, but have gone through the older cows to reduce numbers.
Other good weaner sales included seven Rosstulla-blood Herefords, weighing 371kg, sold for $1115 on account Perissa Pty Ltd, Benalla, while Mundoora Pastoral Co, Jerilderie, NSW, sold 12 Glentrevor-blood Herefords weighing 343kg for $920 and Robynvale Pastoral Co, Mt Alexander, sold 15 Anvil-blood Angus weighing 291kg for $925.
Older steers sold to $1315 when 18 Angus weighing 452kg were offered by Baryhyll Pty Ltd, Tallangatta, while C.T and C.M Packer, Bethanga, received $1205 for their pen of 18 Angus weighing $1205.
In the heifer pens, top price at $1080 was paid for the 32 Rennylea-blood Angus weighing 408kg, while D.D and J.R Star, Thologolong, NSW, sold 16 Angus weighing 358kg for $910.
PTIC females topped at $1620 for 13 Black Baldys, Injemire/Ardrossan-blood, weighing 674kg and depastured to a Swallow Angus bull on account Ben Valley Angus, Ben Valley.
Cows with calves sold to $1620 for 20 second-calver Angus and rejoined to Angus on account Lone Pine, Tarcutta, NSW.
