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Demand was strong for a full yarding of nearly 1000 heifers and steers on offer at the Mt Benger Spring Cattle Sale in Teviot Valley last week.
Rural Livestock Central Otago livestock agent Dennis Mullally, of Alexandra, said there was a full clearance of the 555 cattle Rural Livestock had on offer.
"It was a good, strong sale. There is confidence in the cattle market."
About 95% of the cattle on offer were beef breeds, he said.
Highlights included Merino Ridges selling rising 2-year-old Hereford-cross heifers for $1360 per head, Angus steers for $1110 and Angus heifers for $1010.
Hills Teviot sold Simmental heifers for $1290 and steers for $970.
Limehills sold Hereford heifers for $1030.
Avenal Farming sold yearling Angus-cross steers for $1250 and Charolais heifers for $1180.
Prices were on par with the same sale last year, he said.
About 100 people attended the sale this year and it was a strong bench of buyers, he said.
PGG Wrightson North Otago livestock manager and head auctioneer Mark Yeates, of Oamaru, said there was a full clearance of about 350 steers and heifers, which PGG had on offer.
The sale opened with a pen of 2-year-old Angus steers from Black Dog Station which made $1490.
Farmer Mark Booth sold a pen of his Angus and Angus-cross steers for $1400
A pen of 2-year-old Angus steers from Kynllallan Farming Company sold for $1390.
Another highlight was a quality consignment of yearlings from Hillsprings Farming Company.
Hillsprings sold three pen of Angus and Angus-cross yearling steers for $1400, $1275 and $1090.
Two pens of Charolais-cross yearling steers from Hillsprings sold for $1380 and $1210.
Pens of Charolais-cross heifers from the same farm sold for $1250, $1110 and $950.
A line of Hereford-Friesian steers from regular vendor Laurie Crawford sold for $1380 and his Belgian Blue-cross steers sold for $1210.
The good quality beef finishing cattle on offer were held in high regard by finishers and attracted buyers from across the South.
"There is an inherent confidence in beef at present."
