CALF prices continued their impressive run at Wodonga today, with heavy Charolais-cross weaner steers selling to $915.

Heifers topped at $840.

There was few sales less than $700 for steers in a market that was deemed a win for breeders but had many onlookers questioning how buyers could make a profit.

The majority of the calves had a displayed indicator weight, and on these figures, the general run of weaner steers sold in the 230c to 250c/kg liveweight range.

Indicator sales included Granite Pastoral Co’s line of 41 Hereford steers, aged 10 months, yard weaned and EU accredited that averaged 360kg and sold for $850 or 236c/kg.

Vendor Echarina from Bowna sold 24 Poll Hereford steers, aged nine months and weighing 320kg, for $770 or 240c/kg. A second line of 44 at a lighter 285kg sold for $740 or 259c/kg.

Prices in liveweight terms favoured the lighter calves, although there was a limited selection of these due to the good season.

Bidding at times reached exceptional levels for these, as evidenced by sales such as $712 for 17 Hereford steers that had a displayed weight of 239kg, representing almost 300c/kg.

The top-priced Charolais-Angus steers, bred by stud breeder Graeme Cook of Rangan Charolais, had an average weight of 446kg, with the $915 price equating to 205c/kg.

Rangan also topped the heifer section with Charolais-Angus that weighed 402kg and sold for $840, or 208c/kg.

Both lots of the Rangan calves sold to NSW farmers Robert and Stephen Gill, of Merriwa in the Hunter Valley, who operate their own branded beef business.

They said the Charolais calves would be topped up on grain and then killed within the next month for the top-end restaurant trade.

The buyer that continued to dominate the market was Swift, with several commission buyers also piecing together loads of calves for NSW restockers. There was also local support.