HAMILTON'S female cattle sale hit a sluggish note as PTIC heifers and cows failed to ignite much interest.

Buyers on joined females all came from the immediate local area, Warrnambool, Casterton and Mount Gambier, while T&R Pastoral had a pretty open run on unjoined heifers and steers.

Dry summer conditions, lack of feed and a softer prime market were blamed for the lukewarm result.

But better-bred lines in the yarding of 1200 head still achieved good rates, meeting expectations of vendors.

PTIC Angus heifers reached up to $1440.Only a handful of comparable pens sold to beyond $1200.Most joined females were $900-$1100 and down to around $830 for older joined cows.

Unjoined heifers fetched 160-180c/kg and the small penning of weaner steers made 180-192c/kg.Rob Walter and Lee Beattie, Prestonholme achieved the top money with a pen of 15 of their Angus heifers, rising two-years old, PTIC to Vermont bulls.

The 150 heifers they sold were some of the last from their herd which has been dispersed.

They plan to move into trading cattle or cropping.

"We're pretty happy with that (top) price, it is a bit better than expected," Lee said.

Michael and Greg Holcombe, Camp Creek, Branxholme bought this $1440 pen and a further 17 from Prestonholme at $1080.

Last year at the same sale pregnant heifers sold to a top of $1600, in a sale that included two major dispersals, including the Prestonholme's sale of 250 head.

PTIC breeders, heifers to 10 year-old cows, then ranged from $1200-$1600.

During the 2011 sale the Holcolmbes bought 30 of the Prestonholme herd, paying $1600 for 13 two-year-old heifers, and $1450 for 17 of their five year-old sisters.

Michael Holcombe said today's purchase would help build up the Camp Creek herd.

"We have about 200 breeders now and this will help us with the direction we’re heading in," he said.

"The price we paid is about average on what we've paid over the past three years."

He said the offspring would be sold as weaners. This year's Holcombe weaners averaged $820 or 225c/kg, a good result, he said.

First-time seller at the Hamilton feature sale was well regarded Casterton cattle breeder Ricky Foster, Haven Park, Wando Vale.His pen of 14 Hereford heifers, EU accredited, rising two years old, Mawarra-blood, AI-joined to back to Mawarra bulls made $1250.

They were bought by weaner seller John Pepper, Lochredal, Tahara.

John said the heifers would go into his breeding herd to boost numbers.

"The price was good, I think the EU (accreditation) put a few extra dollars on them," he said.

This year John's Hereford weaners averaged $808 for 130 steers.Rick said he was "pretty happy" with the price, having hoped they would make at least $1200.

"We decided to sell them now as it is a good way to value-add them instead of selling everything at the weaner sales," he said.

Some of the good-value buys of the day included a pen of 24 Mt Eccles Hereford heifers, PTIC to Pathfinder Angus bulls, rising two years old, which sold for $860 to Graham Gull, Greengully.

Graham said the price was "good buying, I would not have like to have been selling today".

A Mount Gambier buyer bought 18 of the Mt Eccles Hereford heifers, two years, PTIC to Pathfinder bulls for $920.

Ballaarook sold several pens, making up to $1320 for six Angus cows, four years old, PTIC to Toora West bulls.

Another pen of 15 Ballaarook Angus cows of the same age fetched $1200. Daffey Partnership sold 14 Angus heifers, two and half years, PTIC to Vermont bulls for $1280 to a Mount Gambier buyer.In the unjoined heifers, Murroa East sold 49 Angus heifers, 420kg for $770 or 183c/kg.

These, and most of the comparable heifers, were knocked down to T&R Pastoral buyer Steve Chapman.Coffey Partnership, which had a very strong weaner selling year, sold 16 Angus heifers, 11 months old, 343kg, for $740 to Paul Ray, Warrnambool.

Other unjoined heifers ranged from 160-180c/kg.

A few pens of weaner steers made 180-192c/kg.