Prices drop 50c in Warwick
ROMA STORE
CATTLE numbers increased by 655 head to 7924 at the Roma Store Sale. Cattle were primarily drawn from the local supply area, where dry conditions continue to prevail. A good panel of buyers was present and operating. Young cattle, including calves, dominated the yarding and the quality was mixed. Prices eased further from last week across most categories. Light weight steers less than 280kg to restockers eased 12c to 14c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers less than 330kg to feed decreased 14c to 15c, while the medium weight yearling steers less than 400kg to feed eased 10c/kg. Heavy weight steers to feed decreased 15c/kg.
Yearling heifers less than 280kg to restockers eased 8c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers less than 330kg to restockers decreased by 10c and the medium weight yearling heifers less than 400kg to feed eased by 6c/kg. There were limited grown steers and heifers yarded. Medium weight two-score cows decreased 9c, while medium weight three-score cows eased 5c/kg. Heavy weight three-score cows decreased by 7c/kg.
Calves made to 262.2c to average 224c/kg. Light weight yearling steers less than 280kg to restockers sold to a top of 268.2c to average 244c/kg. A good sample of medium weight yearling steers weighing 280-330kg to feed made to 266.2c to average 247c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers weighing 330-400kg to feed made to 271.2c to average 253c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed made to 276.2c to average 253c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers less than 280kg to restockers made to 207.2c to average 199c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers weighing 280-330kg to restockers made to 250.2c to average 202c/kg.
Medium weight yearling heifers weighing 330-400kg to feed made to 220c to average 201c/kg. Heavy weight grown heifers sold to a top of 236.2c to average 218c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows sold to a top of 181.2c to average 149c, while the medium weight three-score cows made to 223.2c to average 200c/kg. Heavy weight three-score cows sold to 223.2c to average 209c/kg. Heavy weight bulls sold to a top of 269.2c to average 256c/kg.
WARWICK
THE supply of stock had a small increase to 2215 head following the large yarding the previous sale. Mixed-quality young cattle were in the largest group, along with 580 cows and a relatively small selection of heavy grown steers and bullocks. The usual panel of export buyers was present and operating, plus the regular feed and trade buyers, however a limited number of restocker buyers attended. Light weight young cattle experienced a very difficult market, with prices easing 15c to 30c being fairly common and up to 50c/kg in places. However, the relatively short supply of medium and heavy weight yearling steers to feed sold to fair demand. Medium and heavy weight yearling heifers to feed and trade followed a similar trend. The harsh, dry conditions were reflected in the standard of the cows, with the vast majority in the lower fat score, and prices had difficulty maintaining the levels of the previous sale.
A few steer calves made to 219.2c, with the largest number of mixed-sex calves averaging 146c/kg. Vealer steers to restockers averaged 209c and made to 226.2c/kg. Vealer heifers averaged 192c, with the occasional sale to 238.2c/kg. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock made to 233.2c to average 210c, and poor-quality lines 153c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged 243c and made to 277.2c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 259c and made to 274.2c, and local trade lines averaged 272c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 223c/kg. Heavy weights to the trade made to 251.2c to average 236c/kg.
Heavy three-score grown steers averaged 261c, and some supplementary-fed classes made to 289.2c/kg. A small number of bullocks made to 278.2c to average 274c/kg. Light weight poor-condition cows averaged 124c and medium weights 144c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows averaged 173c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 218.2c to average 211c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 262.2c/kg.
TOOWOOMBA
NUMBERS increased by 360 head to 1229 and quality was boosted in places by the Goombungee-Haden and Oakey Show Beef Classic. Apart from the show exhibits, the quality of the remainder of the young cattle was very mixed and a large number of cows were penned. A good panel of buyers was present with representatives covering all classes. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 11c/kg cheaper, and lesser-quality lines were discounted further. Medium and heavy weight yearling steers to feed sold to a cheaper trend. The better end of the light weight yearling heifers experienced fair demand, however the poorer quality lines were discounted. A lift in the overall quality of the cows, combined with stronger demand, lifted prices by 6c to 11c/kg and more in places.
The occasional steer calf with showing potential made to 385.2c, with most of the steer calves making about 231c, while mixed-sex calves made 159c/kg. Vealer heifers from the show exhibits made to 298.2c to average 284c/kg. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 244c and made to 264.2c, and the poor-quality lines averaged 176c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged from 240c to 257c, with sales to 264.2c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed averaged 261c and made to 269.2c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers from the show made to 309.2c, with the remainder making close to 267c/kg. Most of the light weight yearling heifers sold in the early 190c range, with sales to 206c, and poor-quality lines averaged 112c/kg. Heavy weight yearling heifers from the show made to 307.2c, with the remainder making about 239c/kg.
A small number of bullocks from the show exhibits made to 303.2c, with the remainder reaching 282.2c/kg. Light weight poor-condition cows sold to restockers at an average of 139c and made to 141.2c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows to processors averaged 179c and the best of the medium weights made to 214.2c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 237.2c in pen lots with most making close to 218c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 224.2c/kg.
DALBY
THE supply of stock lifted by 750 head to 6017, and once again cows dominated the grown cattle section with about 1400 cows penned. Export buyer attendance was good and most were operating, however similar to the previous week not all the regular feeder operators attended. Steer calves returning to the paddock improved in price, although light weight yearling steers to restockers were well supplied and averaged 5c/kg cheaper. Medium weight yearling steers to feed eased 14c, and heavy weights averaged 6c to 9c/kg cheaper. Light weight yearling heifers to feed or background averaged 13c to 14c/kg less, while the trade descriptions experienced very little change. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 10c/kg cheaper.
Heavy grown steers and bullocks experienced a small improvement in price. Despite the very large supply of cows, prices generally improved by 6c to 10c/kg.
Steer calves returning to the paddock made to 286.2c to average 269c, while mixed-sex calves averaged 161c/kg. Light weight yearling steers sold to restockers at an average of 265c and made to 309.2c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed made to 278.2c to average 254c/kg. Heavy weights made to 276c to average 270c/kg. The largest sample of light weight yearling heifers averaged 200c and poor-quality lines averaged from 133c to 149c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 219c and made to 226.2c, and the lesser-quality lines averaged 155c/kg. A consignment of very-well-bred heavy weight yearling heifers to feed made to 262.2c/kg.
Heavy grown steers to export process averaged 279c and the bullock portion made to 291.2c to average 286c/kg. Medium weight two-cows averaged 179c and made to 193.2c/kg. A very large sample of good heavy cows made to 245.2c to average 230c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 269.2c/kg.
LISMORE
FOLLOWING some handy rain on the coast, a light yarding of 130 cattle sold at the Lismore Saleyards on Tuesday.
Cows sold at similar rates to recent weeks.
There were no heavy beef cows to quote so it was a few good dairy cows which topped this week’s sale, with a friesian selling for $1.90/kg, returning $1455.
Medium cows sold from 90c to $1.65/kg.
Only a handful of prime vealers were on offer and sold from $1.80 to $2.34/kg.
Most vealers this week were unsuitable for meat operators and with restockers limited, prices were disappointing.
Prices ranged from $1 to $1.60/kg for heifers and most steers $1.50 to $2.30/kg.
CASINO
NUMBERS were similar to last week, with 1637 head sold. There were 1144 head of vealers and yearlings, with the balance made up mainly of cows and smaller numbers of other grown categories to make 491 head.
Some good lines of vealers and yearlings were on offer, however, and the ongoing dry conditions again saw more lighter vealers yarded.
Competition for vealers was stronger this sale, with a Central Queensland restocker buyer in attendance. Medium weight restocker vealers gained 3c to 5c and the lighter weights gained up to 20c.
Overall, vealers made to 256.2c/kg with an average weight of 214kg and the top-priced vealer sold by Peter Dawson for $972.52. Yearling steers made to 216.2/kg, averaging 390kg, and the best price of $994.52 was for one head sold by Mark G and CM Elliott, while yearling heifers topped at 190c/kg, averaging 338kg for a top price of $741 for Rodney Bailey.
Cows totalling 435 were sold, making to 224.2c/kg and averaging 451kg, with one head selling for $1448.54 from producer JA Peniston-Bird. Bullocks made a top of 248.2c/kg, averaging 581kg, with one head selling for $1719.12 from Roger Olive.
On Friday, March 1, T&W McCormack and Ramsey Bulmer will kick off March with their monthly store sale, where 1000 head have been advertised as booked at the time of this report.
GUNNEDAH
ANOTHER large offering with vealers, yearlings and cows again making up the majority of the penning. There were very few grown steers or heifers penned. The overall quality of the offering was very mixed, while condition scores were mainly on the low end of the scale. A cow buyer returned, while another did not attend for the first time in four weeks. Restocker and feedlot competition was subdued, underpinned by increased southern interests.
Market trends were primarily cheaper through the young cattle, where quality variation did affect some price change. Vealer steers to restockers were down 5c/kg and more in places where the quality varied. There were significantly cheaper trends through the heifer vealers to both the trade and restockers. Light and medium weight yearling steers sold on a firm to slightly dearer market trend and quality was a price factor.