HEIFER weaners sold 10c/kg to 15c/kg above expectations and made to $609 at Hamilton today.
Most heifers over 250kg liveweight across all breeds sold for $380 to $550, with some top prices more than $300 down on last year's rates for a generally lighter yarding of 2860 cattle, after 600 withdrawals.
Glenayre's 16 February-March drop Charolais heifers, at 393kg, topped the sale at $609 or 155c/kg to Rodwells Horsham buyer Wayne Driscoll.
Delamere sold 14 Charolais heifers for 169c/kg or $546 to Landmark Leongatha and Boolang's 21 362kg Charolais made 158c/kg or $572 to a Heywood restocker.
The top Angus pen was Comly Banks 23 372kg heifers that sold for 160c/kg to come out at $595 to a Warrnambool district restocker.
Comly Banks principal, Peter Peach from Byaduk, also 33 Angus heifers for 167c/kg or $382 at the sale and said his average for 78 heifers was $556, $179 below last year.
"This is just a sign of the times," he said.
The Corra Pastoral Company sold 35 389kg heifers that sold for 152c/kg or $591 to Rodwells Horsham.
The top Hereford price per kilogram went to the Malseed family's 35 Orana heifers that made 170c/kg or $498 with repeat buyer Gary and Rachel Owen from Budgeree in south Gippsland. Orana's top heifer price last year was $800, but Paul Malseed said his calves were 30kg lighter this year.
Kerr and Co Livestock auctioneer Craig Pertzel said the talk before the sale was of prices between 130c/kg to 150c/kg, but it was fairly tight around 140c/kg to 160c/kg.
"It's not big money but it is better than expected."
