HEREFORDS outshone the Charolais cross weaners at Hamilton yesterday.

A pen of 23 382kg Hereford Ardmore topped today's market at $672 with a bid of 176c/kg.

Charolais cross weaners, which have attracted increasing popularity for the both domestic and export markets sold to a top of $667 or 171c/kg.

Last year Charolais sold to a top$762 with a bid of 187c/kg.

The top price was achieved today by the Coffey partnership's 15 390kg Charolais Angus cross weaners.

Today's sale which was organised by Hamilton's five private agencies attracted a yarding of 2400 head predominatly Hereford but also included 240 Charolais cross and another 150 other European breed crosses.

Prices for the Charolais steers, which weighed from 320-390kg remained relatively consistent from 164-175c/kg.

South Gippsland's Rob Findley and Lachie McKenziefrom the Meredith Wahroonga feedlot accounted for 60 per cent of the Charolais purchases.

As with most of the Western District sales this week, prices for the European crosses were back 15-20 cents or $50-$80 on last year.

One noted European cross sale was the offering of more than 100 Simmental-Hereford-Shorthorn cross weaners on account of Malcolm Robertson from Tahara Bridge near Coleraine.

His top pen of 33 392kg steers sold for 164c/k or $642.

Mr Robertson said his average this year of $605 was a dollar up on last year, due to extra 50kg across the line.

The Hereford offering was topped by 23 382kg Ardmore steers at 176c/kg or $672.

Paul Malseed's Orana Herefords from Branxholme were not far behind at $664 or 177c/kg for 25 375 10-month-old steers.

Considering the state of the market Mr Malseed was pleased with his results which also included a pen of 80 323kg steers which achieved a top bid of 187c/kg for a return of $604.

The buyer of the Orana steers was Penshurst bullock fattener Tim Hutton, a repeat buyer of the Orana cattle.

Hereford prices were consistently bid from 165-185c/kg.

Local repeat buyers bought most of the Herefords, although cattle were also booked to South Gippsland, Geelong, north-east Victoria and to NSW buyers at Yass, Forbes and Walgett