Prices from across southwest Queensland selling complexes
ROMA
NUMBERS reduced by 572 head to total 4,528 head at the Roma store sale. Cattle came from a vast area including far western districts, including some from New South Wales. The overall quality was not up to the standard of the previous week. Prices eased for most classes of yearling steers by 2c to 10c/kg, with some of the losses related to the quality penned. Apart from top end quality lines of light weight yearling heifers receiving fair demand, most sold to a cheaper trend with decreases of 20c/kg. The better end of the cows generally received only quality related price changes, while the plain condition classes experienced a small turn around in price.
Steer calves returning to the paddock made to 288c to average 279c, while most heifer calves sold around 183c, with some reaching 198.2c/kg. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 280c and made to 292.2c/kg. Yearling steers in the 280-330kg range averaged 270c and made to 286.2c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged close to 276c and made to 290c/kg. Most heavy weight yearling steers over 400kg, going to feed, sold around 279c, with some to 288.2c/kg. The largest numbers of light weight yearling heifers averaged 212c, with occasional sales of 236.2c, with poor quality lines
making approximately 160c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 246c and made to 250c/kg.
Light weight poor condition cows averaged 128c and made to 144.2c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows averaged 165c and the
best of the medium weights averaged 192c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 210c to average 205c/kg. Heavy bulls made to
241.2c/kg.
WARWICK
THERE was an increased yarding of 1,380 head, which was up by 276. There was a good supply of young cattle, while cows dominated the grown cattle section. The yarding of young cattle consisting mainly of light yearlings and weaners, although there was a few pens of heavier yearling steers and heifers offered. Quality was fairly plain with the largest percentage being light yearlings and weaners in plain condition, however there was several runs of well-bred cattle through the sale.
The market was generally easier, with restocker weaner steers selling to a top of 265c/kg. Medium weight feeder steers held firm, selling to a top of 300c, to average 275c/kg. Light plain cattle continued to decline, with some sales up to 20c/kg cheaper in places. Trade yearling steers sold from 254c to 284c, with outstanding B muscled steers topping at 292c/kg. Medium weight feeder heifers were down by 5c, selling to 265c for an average of 233c/kg. Trade heifers held firm, topping at 265c/kg.
The yarding of export cattle consisted mainly of cows, with an odd pen of grown steers and heifers. Grown steers sold to a top of 278c for the younger steers, while heifers topped at 242c/kg. The cow market was down by 8c to 10c/kg with a large percentage of the cows in the plainer grades, although there was several pens of medium and heavy three and four score cows offered. One and two score cows sold from 70c to 175c, while three score medium weights averaged 190c, and heavy cows sold to a top of 219c/kg.
TOOWOOMBA
NUMBERS reduced by around 100 head and overall quality was very mixed with increased numbers of drought affected classes included in the line-up. A fair panel of buyers was present and most were operating in a generally cheaper market. Light weight yearling steers to restockers averaged 11c less and over 20c/kg cheaper on the poor quality lines. A fairly ordinary line-up of medium weight yearling steers to feed also averaged over 20c/kg less and only a handful of heavy weight yearling steers to feed were penned. Yearling heifers followed a similar trend with losses of 20c/kg fairly common. Heavy grown steers and bullocks sold to a cheaper market with only the younger lines in demand. Cows lost a further 10c to 14c/kg and more on light weight poor condition classes.
Steer calves averaged 240c and made to 247.2c and heifer calves averaged 182c and made to 212.2c/kg.
The occasional vealer steer with show-ring potential made to 300c/kg. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock made to 236.2c to average close to 227c and the poor quality lines averaged 177c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged 230c and made to 254.2c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to feed or background made to 200.2c to average 196c/kg. Yearling heifers in the 280-330kg range to feed averaged 197c and made to 208.2c/kg. A few medium weights to feed averaged 211c and heavy weight yearling heifers to the trade made to 246.2c to average 232c/kg.
Heavy grown steers to export slaughter averaged 260c and made to 266.2c and the bullock averaged 265c with some younger classes reaching 274.2c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows to processors averaged 166c and the best of the medium weights made to 199.2c/kg. Good heavy cows made to an isolated 218.2c with most around 206c/kg. One outstanding bull sold to export processors at 256.2c with the remainder around 219c/kg.
DALBY
THE supply of stock reduced by 1,500 head to total 2,928 head and the quality was very mixed. Most of the usual buyers attended. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed sold to firm demand, while medium to heavy weight lifted in price. Plain condition cows received a small improvement. While the better cow received only quality related price changes.
Medium weight yearling heifers made from 240c to 258c, with heavy yearling steers making up to 294.2c/kg.
Heavy grown steers to slaughter sold from 243c to 266c and medium weight cows sold from 170 to 195c/kg. Bulls sold up to 292.2c/kg.
CASINO
NUMBERS were reduced by 227 and were comprised of 1,045 young cattle and 278 exports. There were limited drafts of good butcher veal and a large selection of weaners suitable for restockers, mostly made up of local producers, taking advantage of the current dry conditions and purchasing many of the lighter drafts of calves.
Trade vealers saw dearer trends for the better calves, however, averages saw slightly cheaper results of 13c/kg. Local restockers pushed prices for weaner steers and saw dearer trends by 17c, while heifers were also dearer, selling to 236c/kg. Yearling cattle were in limited numbers and of plainer quality and condition. Trends were generally cheaper for both steers and heifers.