An even penning of quality weaner cattle greeted buyers at the annual Yea Nutrien Livestock sale on Friday.
Annual drafts of "true spring-drop weaner" cattle, bred mainly locally, sold to strong demand with a Covid-19 regulated gallery of buyers paying to $1610 for steers and $1450 for heifers.
Angus steers made up the majority of the yarding of 1981 cattle with 1214 selling fro $810 to $1610 to average $1312. Hereford steers numbered 195 and sold from $1000 to $1350 and averaged $1220.
In the heifer yarding the 295 Angus made from $650 to $1450 and averaged $1175 while 26 Hereford heifers sold in two lines making $850 and $950.
This year's result was almost double the 2019 sale and was reflective of recent sales and the condition of the stock presented.
Nutrien Livestock's Tyson Bush said the cattle were a credit to the vendors.
He said feedback from buyers was that they were pleased with the evenness and quality of the yarding.
"It was a proper spring drop yarding of high-country calves," he said.
Mr Bush said a number of EU qualified cattle stayed "in the system", but there was no distinct premium paid.
He said AuctionsPlus bid on a number of pens but only purchased a couple of pens.
"Overall everyone is happy. It has been a great day."
Nutrien auctioneer Anthoney Delaney said the cattle were saved for this fixture and this year there was a lift in the weights of calves.
It was an even run of steer calves all the way through with prices ranging generally around 450-460c/kg.
Mr Delaney said there was strong competition from the western District, across a wide area of NSW with some local support.
Top of the steer section was a pen of 14 sold account Yencken Pastoral weighing 371kg and making $1610 or 433c/kg.
CK & LM Oliver sold 13 steers, 8-9 months, weighing 357kg that made $1540 or 431c/kg.
At the heavy end of steers was a pen of 11, weighing 389kg, Glendaloch blood, that sold account Sawpit Rural for $1560 or 401c/kg. Their heifer portion was a pen of seven that made $1450 or 381c/kg.
Twenty-two steers sold account Marlene Walsh, weighing 331kg, sold for $1510 or 456c/kg, with a pen of 26 at 285kg sold for $1320. The heifer portion from the same vendor comprised a pen of 26 weighing 270kg that made $1190 or 440c/kg.
Habbies Howe forwarded a draft of Te Mania blood, September/October-drop steers 44 selling for $1480, or 447c/kg. A further lot of 48 made $1410 or 454c/kg on weights of 310kg. A third pen of 38 lighter steers at 297kg sold for $1350 or 454c/kg.
A big annual draft of 152 Poll Hereford calves consigned by Molesworth Pastoral sold to strong demand. The Wirruna and Claredale blood steers, 8-9 months, had weights of 205kg to 294kg and sold from $1020 to $1350 or up to 548c/kg.
Barragunda Pastoral, Mansfield, forwarded 154 Angus steers with the tops making $1450 for a pen of 18 at 329kg. The balance sold in a band from $1380 to $1190. The low pen came in at 528c/kg for the 28 that weighed 225kg.
Black On Green sold 147 Riga and Anvil blood steers to a top of $1400 and the balance from $1260 to $1335 on weights of 256kg to 310kg.
Ancona Station consigned 77 steers and 25 heifers, Anvil blood, with the steer portion selling between $1000 (555c/kg) and $1280 (477c/kg).
One pen of 25 Murray Grey steers, 272kg, sold account Geelong Grammar sold for $1120 or 414c/kg.
Of the lighter weight steers a pen of 27 sold account Robin Rise, 6-7 months, sold for $1070 or 529c/kg.