Mareeba finishes year in bullish style
FINISHING off the last sale of the year yesterday, Mareeba Sale Yards penned a record breaking 1332 head of cattle.
Elders LiveStock sales manager Mark Peters said it was a record number of cattle sold for this time of the year.
“In the lead-up to this sale, we did our best to have a large head of cattle,” he said.
“There was good quality cattle sold and the prices were firm.”
Grazier at Mont Albion Station, Irvenbank, about an hour south of Mareeba, Tom Mauloni said for the last sale the quality was super rich.
“I was a butcher for 30 years and I see there really is a lot of good quality cattle,” he said. “And the prices are pretty reasonable for this time of the year.”
NQ Sale Yards secretary Graham Elmes said on average both the prices and head of cattle had been good.
“Last year, we had the largest number of cattle penned but we expected the prices would come down this year,” he said.
Mr Elmes said he was hoping for a similar year in 2018.
“The free trade agreements and live exports have helped the industry,” he said.
“There are more promising than negative signs for next year.
“The American grinding meat market has been taking more cattle from Mareeba.”
Mr Peters said store steers made a lot more money compared to previous weeks.
“There was a lot more buyers present which would suggest why their prices were up this week,” he said.
The next sale will be February 13, 2018 at 9am at Mareeba Sale Yards.