Prices were the highest ever seen at northern Tasmania’s annual spring store cattle held at Powranna on Thursday where a good quality yarding of 1,500 cattle met solid local competition.
Buyers from the Northwest Coast and local feedlots supported the market while interstate orders were supplied and underpinned competition but without recording any success.
The sale was a combined effort by Roberts Limited and Elders Rural Services who jointly plan to continue with regular store cattle sales at Powranna conducted on a monthly basis.
Nick Towns, Roberts Ltd said the annual spring sale resulted in a good solid market whereby prices for most steers were fully firm to recent late rates, while heifers and very light weight cattle sold above expectation.
NLRS market reporter, Richard Bailey said the quality of the yarding and the numbers mustered for the sale were surprisingly higher than expected given the time of year.
Most cattle he said came from the Northeast, Fingal Valley and Northern Midlands which have enjoyed a relatively trouble-free season since the main break in the season occurred back in mid-April.
Mr Bailey said most mid-range yearling-aged steers were sold at rates of 370c to 420c/kg.
Heavier yearling steers, weighed at more than 400kg, made $1,500 to $1,620 while medium weights made $1,250 to $1,490 and light steers, $770 to $1,160.
There were some excellent pens of heifers offered, Nick Towns said. The heaviest heifers, 400kg plus, made $1,430 to $1,540, medium weights $1,200 to $1,360 and light $800 to $1,170 a head.
Most heifer sales realised 340-370c/kg.
