ANGUS cows with autumn-drop calves set a new record of $2300 for the Casterton’s saleyards at the Noss herd dispersal last Thursday.

Agents Landmark Harcourts sold 47 third calver cows with Pathfinder blood calves to a Landmark Naracoorte client for the top price of $2300, believed to be the highest price paid for cow-calf units in the south-west Victorian yards.

The results reflected the ability of smaller regional saleyards to continue to deliver very strong buyer competition on desirable cattle, a local market watcher said.

The 220 rejoined Pathfinder blood Angus cows with calves averaged $2130 and generally sold from $1660 to $2260 to buyers mainly from South Australia, north east Victoria and locally. The 60 Angus heifers tested in calf to a Pathfinder bull made to $1560, with 34 sold to a Rodwells Yea client at the top price. Other PTIC heifers made from $1080 to $1320.

The EU-accredited Noss Pastoral herd was dispersed by the Sinclair family of Casterton following the sale of their Noss Retreat Road property, north of the town.

Auctioneer Greg Bright and agent Andrew Harrison said they had never before sold cows of the quality for the prices received in the Casterton yards.

“They are leading breeding cattle and have traditionally been in the first or second pens of our weaner pens every year,” Mr Bright said.

“They are noted doing cattle, well-sought after by feedlots and Gippsland fatteners for many years,” he said.

“The calves on the cows were exceptional; I would say there wasn’t a dry calf in any of them and they were on very good temperament pure Pathfinder blood cows.”

Mr Bright said dry cows out of the area have been making $1500-$1600 recently and the calves on the Noss cows would be worth $500-$600. But he said in his 20 years selling at Casterton he had never sold cow-calf units for $2300.

“I’ve never stood over a better line of cattle. I’ve never asked $2300 for a pen before and I’ve never been knocked before, but this time I was, and he took the three pens that were up,” he said.

“So it was quite pleasurable.”