It was a sea of smiling faces at the Stanthorpe Weaner Blue Ribbon Sale on Thursday as the weaner market exploded and topped at 350c/kg.
In all, selling agents yarded 2300 cattle drawn from the local surrounding district and northern NSW.
The market topped at 350c/kg for a line of EU-accredited Angus steers offered by Rod and Glenda Reeves, Wyuna, Amosfield, near Stanthorpe.
Mr and Mrs Reeves were delighted with the sale result.
"We put a lot of hard work into the weaning and presentation of our cattle but the reward was certainly worth it," Mrs Reeves said.
The Reeves offered a line of 147 Angus weaner steers and 71 Angus heifers based on the Hazeldean and Texas bloodlines.
Steers sold to average $963/head while heifers averaged $608/head.
These steers and heifers were all weaned a month ago and handled in time for sale.
The Reeves annually join 450 breeders and target the progeny onto the weaner market.
Another family smiling after a great result was John Smith who accompanied his daughter-in-law Jessica, and grandchildren Jack and Bobbie at the sale.
Jessica and her husband Michael Smith, Wattle Glen, Woodenbong, NSW, were over the moon when their top pen of steers sold for 342c to return $1080/head.
They offered 73 Angus steers and 25 Angus heifers, aged 11 months straight off their mothers and EU-accredited.
Their average weight of their steers was 287kg to return $954/head, while their heifers averaged 271kg to return $838/head.
Their sale lines were based on Glenavon Angus and Lyle Family Angus bloodlines.
Jessica and Michael ran 250 breeders until late last year when they bought a line of 60 heifers to add to their herd.
Selling agent Darren Perkins Grayson, George and Fuhrman, Casino, NSW, said the market certainly exploded, particularly for Angus EU cattle.
"We had cattle with the frame, but due to the drought they did not have the weight," he said.