DECLINING pasture quality and a lack of feedlot buyers contributed to a softer steer market at Wangaratta today

With the big guns noticeably absent, backgrounders from mainly within 100km of the selling centre paid up to $840 for steers and $720 for heifers.

The majority of vendors quoted the market close to $60 down on last year, while commission buyers rated it firm on yesterday's Wodonga special store sale.

Wangaratta Associated Agents presented 2262 cattle on soft flooring for the annual Blue Ribbon weaner sale.

Cattle were booked to Bathurst, Boorowa, Queanbeyan, Albury-Wodonga, Benalla, Euroa and local districts.

The heavy end of the Angus weaners (over 350kg) failed to get within cooee of last year's top price of $890, selling for $755-$840 or 204-232c/kg.Prices for the middle run of Angus weaners, weighing 250-350kg, finished at $650-$770 or 217-246c/kg.

Brothers Kieran and Pat Fogarty, of Boorhaman, won the champion pen with 22 Angus steers, aged 11-12 months, selected by judge and Albury commission buyer Graeme Ward.

The Te Mania and Ardrossan blood steers, weighing 397kg, sold to a Euroa buyer for $835 or 210c/kg.

Topping the heavy steers was S Montgomery, South Wangaratta, with nine Angus, The Grange and Ardrossan blood, aged 9-10 months and 410kg, selling for $840 or 204c/kg.In the Hereford offering, the heavy end topped at $735-$800 or 200-205c/kg.

Weaners weighing 250-350kg settled at $620-$725 or 202-246c/kg.Black baldies were in demand from backgrounders at $415-$755 or 210-219c/kg.

Domestic feeders liked the European cross cattle, paying $600-$815 or 192-231c/kg.In the unjoined weaner heifers, restockers went head to head with domestic feeders to pay $580-$720 or 159-211c/kg.A small selection of heifers under 300kg finished at $400-$590 or 168-200c/kg.

Vendor Angus McMillan, of Kilfeera, sold 54 Angus steers to top of 246c/kg."The prices were $60 back on last year as the cattle are showing the effects of the tougher conditions this season,'' Mr McMillan said.

"We got our just desserts - pastures are under the pump.

"But there was some pretty well bred cattle in this sale.

''Wangaratta Associated Agents president Daniel Fischer said the good quality cattle sold well .

"The heavy steers were a little under what we anticipated,'' Mr Fischer said.

"We thought they would make 210c/kg and they were only making 200-210c/kg.

''Mr Fischer said the middle run of calves at 290-330kg sold above expectations on recent regional weaner sales.

"The heifers were certainly in line with Euroa almost a fortnight ago,'' he said.

"There was also fattening type heifer opportunities for purchasers.''