Cattle buyers expected
Mareeba Saleyards’ biggest cattle sale so far this year is expected to attract volume buyers to the Tablelands on Friday. More than 1200 cattle are expected to be yarded.
MAREEBA Saleyards’ biggest cattle sale so far this year is expected to attract eager volume buyers to the Tablelands on Friday morning.
More than 1200 cattle are pencilled in to be yarded at the Special Store Sale after a quiet turnout yesterday. North Queensland Saleyards chairman Chris Greenwood said although numbers could change last minute, it was a “promising start” for the region’s graziers.
“It is always exciting leading up to it with a degree of expectation to what we will see on the day,” he said.
“We get all sorts of buyers. We have optimistic ones, people who have received good money for the livestock they have sold, so they are looking to replace them – they are particularly buoyant.”
Cattle will be drawn from the same areas to the north, west, southwest and across the Tablelands.
At yesterday’s Mareeba Prime and Store Cattle Sale 369 cattle were penned at prices up about 207.40c/kg.
This month’s Innisfail store sale auctioned 274 head from areas such as Ravenshoe, Millaa Millaa, Cardwell, Dimbulah and El Arish.
The yarding included 156 steers, 107 heifers, five cows and calves and one bull.
“The market for slaughter cattle is still well above the historical five-year trajectory,” Mr Greenwood said.
“Most people are very happy with where the cattle market is at.”
He said the larger turnout would attract more volume buyers than usual.
“If they are determined they get enough cattle to make the trip worthwhile.”
The Special Store Sale will start at 10am.