Steer prices ease up to 60c
ROMA
CATTLE numbers increased by 1934 head to 7269 at the Roma Store Sale. Cattle were drawn from a wide supply area and a good panel of buyers was present with all operating. The yarding was dominated by young cattle and the quality of all categories varied. Prices decreased sharply for yearling steers and heifers, however demand remained firm for quality lines. Cows also had price fluctuations but they were less severe. Light weight steers less than 280kg to restockers eased by 40c to 59c/kg.
Medium weight yearling steers weighing 280-330kg to feed declined 29c, while the medium weight yearling steers weighing 330-400kg to feed decreased by 17c/kg. Heavy weight steers to feed sold 7c/kg cheaper. Yearling heifers less than 280kg to restockers eased 15c to 24c/kg. Yearling heifers weighing 280-330kg to restockers decreased 19c, however the yearling heifers weighing 330-400kg to restockers increased 3c/kg. There were limited grown steers and heifers yarded. Medium weight two-score cows eased 6c to 9c, while medium weight three-score cows sold 18c/kg dearer. Heavy weight three-score cows increased 22c/kg.
Yearling steers less than 280kg to restockers sold to a top of 286.2c to average 256c/kg. A good sample of medium weight yearling steers weighing 280-330kg to feed made to 278.2c to average 262c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers weighing 330-400kg to feed made to 284.2c to average 263c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed made to 274.2c to average 268c/kg. Yearling heifers less than 280kg to restockers made to 236.2c to average 207c/kg. Yearling heifers weighing 280-330kg made to 234.2c to average 213c/kg. Medium weight heifers weighing 330-400kg made to 240c to average 224c/kg.
Heavy weight grown heifers sold to a top of 245.2c to average 241c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows sold to a top of 180c to average 158c, while the medium weight three-score cows made to 221.2c to average 205c/kg. Heavy weight three-score cows sold to 228.2c to average 216c/kg. Medium weight bulls sold to a top of 275.2c to average 266c/kg.
WARWICK
A LARGER number of 2132 head came forward at Warwick. Buyer representation on the grown cattle was good, with some extra export processors in attendance and operating. The usual feed and trade buyers were also present and operating in a cheaper market. Young cattle were in the largest numbers, however almost 700 cows were penned. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 16c/kg less. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged 24c cheaper and heavy weights decreased 4c to 13c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to feed or background averaged 30c/kg cheaper. Heavy steers and bullocks sold to firm demand. The very large supply of cows sold to within a few cents either way of the previous sale.
Steer calves made to 264.2c to average 230c and mixed-sex calves averaged 200c/kg. Vealer heifers primarily sold close to 207c, and a few to butchers reached 234.2c/kg. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 241c and made to 268.2c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to the trade made to the very occasional 302.2c, while feeder classes averaged 241c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 259c and made to 269.2c, and a small few to the trade reached 287.2c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to feed or background generally sold close to 180c/kg. Trade descriptions made to 209c to average 198c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to the trade made to 266.2c to average 253c, and heavy weights averaged 231c/kg.
Heavy grown steers to export processors made to the occasional 300.2c, with most close to 275c/kg. Bullocks made to 285.2c to average 280c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows averaged 170c and made to 188.2c/kg. A large sample of good heavy cows made to 223.2c to average 212c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors made to 229.2c/kg.
TOOWOOMBA
NUMBERS reduced by 239 head to 869 and the overall quality was very mixed. Young cattle were in the largest numbers, along with a fair sample of cows, and virtually no heavy grown steers or bullocks were penned. The usual panel of buyers was present and operating. Light weight yearling steers sold to strong demand for the quality penned. Medium and heavy weight yearling steers to feed experienced very little change in price. However, some well-presented heavy weights to the trade improved in price.
Light weight yearling heifers varied in price according to quality, with only the well-bred lines receiving strong support. Cows experienced a mixed trend, with plain condition lines to processors or restockers improving 5c to 9c/kg, while good heavy cows could not maintain the levels of the previous week.
Steer calves made to 270.2c to average 245c, and most heifer calves sold close to 169c/kg. Vealer heifers to feed averaged 212c, with a couple to restockers making to an isolated 296.2c/kg. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock made to 275c to average 255c, and the poorer quality lines averaged 205c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed made to 270.2c to average 261c, and heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged from 260c to 270c/kg. Well-presented heavy weights to the trade made to 288.2c to average 282c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers to feed or background made to an isolated 242.2c, with the largest sample making approximately 189c, while trade descriptions averaged 192c and the poor-quality lines averaged 154c/kg.
Medium weight poor condition cows sold to restockers at an average of 158c, and the better lines made to 182.2c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows to processors averaged 179c and made to 189.2c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 224.2c to average 207c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 218.2c/kg.
DALBY
THE supply of stock lifted by 750 head to 6017 at Dalby and, once again, cows dominated the grown cattle section. Buyer attendance was good and most of the major exporters were operating. Medium weight yearling steers to feed eased 13c and heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 8c to 9c/kg cheaper. Yearling heifers decreased by 8c to 20c/kg. Despite the large supply of cows, prices generally improved by 4c to 7c/kg.
C2 yearling steers sold from 230.2c to 278.2c, averaging 255.5c/kg. C2 yearling heifers made from 190.2c to 206.2c, averaging 198.6c/kg.
Grown C3 steers sold from 253.2c to 257.9c, averaging 256.2c, while grown C4 heifers made from 225.2c to 259.2c to average 245.5c, easing 6c/kg. Manufacturing steers made from 218.2c to 265.2c/kg. D4 cows received from 218.2c to 243.2c, averaging 206.2c to be 4c better, and C3 bulls received from 219.2c to 258.2c, making 1c less than the previous week to average 248.3c/kg.
BIGGENDEN STEER SALE
BURNETT Livestock & Realty’s All Breeds Steer Sale on Thursday, February 14 had a yarding of 1907 head.
The sale was judged by Terry Nolan from Nolan Meats and Wide Bay Feedlot.
Wide Bay Feedlot went on to purchase a solid part of the yarding, giving strong support for the sale.
The breed classes were won by both repeat and new competitors.
Clare Grazing, Theodore, won the charolais or charolais infused class and went on to win champion pen and take home the Leichts CIA vet crush for the second year running.
The santa gertrudis or santa infused class was won by Glenellen Cattle Company, Chinchilla.
The brahman or brahman infused class was awarded to Link and Tracy Davies, Mundubbera.
The Davies also went on to win the angus or angus infused class with a different pen of their steers.
The simmental or simmental infused class was won by Richard and Kevin Preston, Eidsvold.
Caleb Crush, Bundaberg, won the droughtmaster or droughtmaster infused class.
JA&J Kirk, Gayndah, sold two-tooth santa gertrudis-cross steers for 280c/$1330.
Jensco Grazing, Mt Perry, sold two-tooth santa steers for 272c/$1222.
Glenellen Cattle Company, Chinchilla, sold two-tooth santa steers for 288c/$1308.
The Dingle family, Mt Perry, sold two-tooth santa steers for 270c/$1143.
Charnwood Grazing, Lowmead, sold two-tooth santa steers for 268c/$1136.
N&K Gibson, Boompa, sold milk- and two-tooth droughtmaster steers for 277c/$1259.
Caleb Crush, Bundaberg, sold two-tooth droughtmaster steers for 283c/$1475.
L&M Wehl, Childers, sold milk- and two-tooth droughtmaster steers for 272c/$1359.
A&VE McIntyre, Gin Gin, sold milk-four-tooth simmental steers for 287c/$1344.
NT&DA McEvoy, Bundaberg, sold two-tooth grey and red brahman steers for 280c/$1403.
G&L Trengrove, Mundubbera, sold two-tooth brahman steers for 268c/$1133.
LK&TM Davies, Mundubbera, sold No.8 charbray steers for 288c/$1161.
Weller Pastoral, Eidsvold, sold charbray No.8 steers for 289c/$1253.
Clare Grazing, Theodore, sold charbray No.8 steers for 299c/$1392.
The Preston family, Eidsvold, sold simmentalcross steers for 290c/$1146.
AW Beddows, Booubyjan, sold simbrah No.8 steers for 298c/$798.
Dean Stanton, Tansey, sold black simmental-cross steers for 270c/$1128.
MURGON
MURGON agents yarded 1100 on Tuesday, with export cattle, heavy feeders and weaner steers remaining fairly firm on the previous sale. Weaner heifers were cheaper yet again. Heavy bulls sold to $2.44 and $2130. Bullocks topped at $2.79/kg for $1890. Cows more than 500kg sold to $2.30/kg. Cows 400-500kg sold to $2.20c/kg. Lighter cows less than 400kg topped at $2/kg. Export heifers topped at $2.57/kg for $1400.
Numbers were drawn from Mundubbera, Biggenden, Gayndah, Durong, Yarraman, Nanango, Kingaroy, Kumbia, Kilkivan and locally.
A draft of 80 charbray and droughtmaster feeder steers averaging 500kg sold to $1390 for an average of $1370 and $2.69c/kg. Two pens of charbray steers from Kumbia sold for $1250 and $1290. Santa-cross steers 460kg from Merlwood sold for $1240 at $2.69/kg. Charbray steers 406kg from Barambah sold for $1050 at $2.60c/kg. Romagnola-cross weaner steers from Hivesville sold to $870 at $2.64/kg. Droughtmaster steers 343kg sold to $2.60, returning $890. A line of 95 droughtmaster-cross weaner steers from Johnstown sold for an average of $651 at $2.78/kg, topping at $710 and $2.84/kg. Santa weaner steers 220kg from Coringa sold for $590 at $2.67/kg. Droughtmaster weaner steers from Goomeri sold for $2.66/kg, returning $633. Santa-cross heifers 414kg sold for $1065 and $2.57/ kg. Drought master cross heifers from Wondai sold to $2.45/kg for $986. Romagnola-cross heifers from Hivesville topped the weaner market at $3.35/kg. Most weaner heifers sold from $1.80/kg to $2.10/kg.