McDonald Lawson Pty Ltd auctioneer Bill Lawson, Mudgee, said the good prices reflected the very good quality of the offering.

"The $4000 cow/calf units were first calvers and three-in-ones - all PTIC back in-calf, three-in-ones which we are not seeing much of at present as people aren't offering three-in-ones, but mostly cows with little calves and choosing to split to take advantage of the current good markets," Mr Lawson. said.

The nine units came from Ken and Sandra Mayberry, Fernmount Partnership, Pinemount, Mudgee, and of Patawalla, Trio and Coffin Creek blood and PTIC to Coffin Creek bulls. These were purchased by Butch and Fiona Pilley, Gundowda, Hargraves.

Second top was $3975 a unit for 10 cows, three and four years, with 10 calves six to seven months and PTIC, bred by Condon and Cluff, Glengarry, Mudgee.

The cows were of Rennylea blood and the calves by Kenny Creek bulls.

Agents could have saved time and not weighed the steer portion as buyers seemed to ignore the cents-per-kilogram notice among the steer lots.

It looked like they had a budget and stuck to that, according to Mr Bill Lawson.

"Although the very lightest steers fetched up to 750c/kg and the bigger steers of 350kg were generally 500c/kg to 520c/kg, the 300kg to 320kg steers were making from 550 to 570c/kg, but for the little ones, people weren't worried about the cents per kilo."

Steers sold first with the first pen beating all others when selling at $1800 for 22 August/September 2020 drop of Pine Creek and Raff blood weighing an average 352kg, bought by Richard Baggett, Mudgee.

These were among the offering of 80 head offered for Blackwell Pastoral, North Haven, with 14 averaging 346kg making $1780 and 21 at 302kg fetching $1700.

The cheapest steers were in the $1500 bracket, but youngsters weighing 222kg sold at $1600 making 721c/kg.

Best presented pen of heifers were bred by Lionel and Rosemarie Delaney, Gunnawarra, Rylstone, for for the top price of $2900.

These were 14 August 2020 drop by Hazeldean bulls and PTIC to Hazeldean and Talooby bulls.

Mr Lawson said for the first time two vendors presented progeny of AI programs, something he hadn't seen before at this sale.

The second and third top-priced pens of heifers were from AI programs.

Vielum Pastoral Company gained $2725 a head for 14 heifers of Millah Murrah blood PTIC to Millah Murrah Paratrooper.

Phil English, Monivae Station, Lue, gained 2550 for 10 heifers AI's to Millah Murrah Milestone.

"Some of the little heifers were making 600c/kg to 650c/kg as well," Mr Lawson said.