LIVESTOCK

Toowoomba Elders

NUMBERS remained similar to the previous week and a fair panel of buyers was present and operating. Agents yarded 608 head, down 30 head on the previous sale. Overall quality was very mixed and young cattle continued to be in the largest numbers. Restockers, feeder operators and the trade displayed more interest on the better quality lines of young cattle. Heavy grown steers, bullocks and cows generally sold to a firm market for the quality penned. Calves to the trade averaged 157c/kg and sold to 174.2c/kg. Vealer heifers to local and southern processors averaged close to 164c/kg, while a handful to local butchers averaged 174c/kg. Lightweight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 184c/kg and sold to 194.2c/kg. Medium-weights to feed sold to 192.2c/kg to average 186c/kg, and D muscle lines averaged 155c/kg. Certified grainfed heavy yearling steers made to 187.2c/kg, while the remainder averaged 168c/kg and sold to 180c/kg. Lightweight yearling heifers to feed and slaughter averaged 146c to 151c/kg with sales to 161.2c/kg. Heavyweights averaged 149c/kg and made to 160c/kg. Heavy grown steers made to 170.2c/kg to average 167c/kg while a small sample of bullocks made to 173.2c/kg, with some over 750kg liveweight making to 162.2c/kg. Lightweight plain cows averaged 65c/kg and medium-weight 2 scores 105c/kg. Heavy 3 scores averaged 116c/kg while the better cows made to 126.2c/kg to average close to 120c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 159.2c/kg.

Toowoomba Landmark

THE steady supply of stock was dominated by young cattle, along with a small sample of heavy grown steers and bullocks and a good line-up of cows. Agents yarded 437 head, down 29 head on the previous sale. A fair panel of buyers was present, with representatives covering all classes. Prices for young cattle improved in places, with the better end of the feeder classes in demand. Export slaughter descriptions of heavy grown steers, bullocks and cows experienced very little change in price. Vealer heifers generally sold around 160c/kg, with some to 173.2c/kg. Lightweight yearling steers to feed made to 186.2c/kg, and restocker lines averaged close to 170c/kg and sold to 177.2c/kg. The better end of the mediumweight feeders made to 192.2c/kg to average 185c/kg. Heavyweights to feed made to a top of 178.2c/kg, with most at 167c/kg. Medium-weight yearling heifers to the trade made to 172.2c/kg to average 155c/kg, and D muscle lines 133c/kg. Heavy grown steers averaged 162c and sold to 167.2c/kg while a few bullocks averaged close to 170c/kg and sold to 170.2c/kg. Plain-condition cows averaged 90c/kg and medium-weight 2 scores averaged 107c/kg. A few good heavy cows averaged 128c/kg, with the occasional sale to 140.2c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 152.2c/kg.

Toowoomba Sullivan SLIGHTLY fewer head came forward this week. The majority of the yarding was made up of heavy steers, bullocks and cows with very few weaner cattle on hand. There were a few handy trade cattle well sought-after from local processors. Export price showed little change from last week’s improved rates. Heavy limo bulls sold to 155c/kg. Very few vealers or restocker cattle were yarded. Vealer heifers suited to the trade market sold up to 173.2c/kg for isolated sales, with most selling about 160/165c/kg. Heavy steers suited to feedlot sold to 173.2c/kg with weights around 450/460kg. Trade feeders met stronger demand, with sales up to 192.2c/kg. A few good heavy bullocks were yarded, selling to 177c/kg while good heavy cows sold to 140c/kg. Younger cattle again this week showed improvements.

Dalby cattle

NUMBERS lifted by 24% and a larger number of drought-affected lines were included in the line-up. Agents yarded 5046 head, up 992 head on the previous sale. Buyer attendance in the export section was generally good and most were operating, however the buying panel for the young cattle was not as good as the previous week. Well-bred lines of lightweight yearling steers continued to receive strong support from restockers, while the reduced buying panel displayed less interest on the heifer portion. Medium-weight and heavyweight yearling steers to feed gained 3c to 5c/kg. A lift in the standard of the heavy grown steers and bullocks improved average prices by 4c to 6c/kg. Plain-condition cows could not maintain the lift in prices experienced the previous week and lost 3c to 7c/kg, while good heavy cows managed to sell close to firm. Calves to slaughter and restockers generally sold in the mid to high 150c/kg range, with some returning to the paddock at 173.2c/kg. A fair sample of vealer heifers averaged 160c/kg and sold to 171.2c/kg. Lightweight yearling steers returning to the paddock averaged 171c/kg and sold to 188.2c/kg, while lesser quality lines generally sold in the 140c/kg range. Medium-weight yearling steers to feed average 171c/kg and sold to 184.2c/kg, while heavy weights averaged in the mid to high 160c/kg range, with some to 174.2c/kg. The better end of the lightweight yearling heifers averaged 155c/kg while the poorer-quality lines averaged in the 120c/kg range. Heavy yearling heifers to slaughter and feed averaged 146c/kg and 148c/kg respectively. Heavy grown steers averaged 170c/kg and made to 179.2c/kg, while bullocks averaged a similar amount and made to 178.2c/kg. A few over 750kg liveweight also made to 178.2c/kg. Medium-weight 2 score cows averaged 100c/kg and made to 105c/kg, while restock lines sold to 117.2c/kg to average 108c/kg. Good heavy cows averaged 126c/kg with the occasional sale to 140.2c/kg.

Warwick cattle

NUMBERS were down by 19%, partly due to local producers who are focusing their activities on oat cropping. Agents yarded 788 head, down 182 head on the previous sale. Overall quality was fair to good and prices improved for a number of classes. Young cattle gained 4c to 5c, and up to 12c/kg in places, with very strong support from the trade and feeder operators. Heavy grown steers and bullocks lifted in price by 2c to 5c/kg, while cows averaged 4c to 6c/kg better. A fair sample of calves sold to slaughter at 169c/kg, with sales to 173.2c/kg. Vealer steers to feed and restockers generally sold in the mid to high 170c/kg range, with sales to 185.2c/kg. Most of the vealer heifers averaged 166c/kg while those to local butchers averaged 186c/kg and sold to 193.2c/kg. Medium-weight yearling steers to feed averaged close to 181c/kg and sold to a top of 189.2c/kg, while heavy weights made to 171.2c/kg and averaged 165c/kg. Lightweight yearling heifers averaged 158c/kg and medium-weights sold to 179.2c/kg. Heavy grown steers made to 176.2c/kg to average 171c/kg and a handful of bullocks averaged 167c/kg. Full-mouth bullocks averaged 144c/kg and sold to 145.6c/kg. Medium-weight 2 score cows averaged 6c/kg dearer at 113c/kg and sold to 115.6c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 145.6c/kg on a couple of occasions, with most close to 135c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 163.6c/kg.

Moreton grain-assist

AGENTS Boyd O’Brien Bartholomew reported a yarding of 590 head of cattle at Moreton on Tuesday. Values for vealers and yearlings improved considerably with much more competition. Trade cattle were firm to dearer, and feeder cattle were in demand. All exports sold to improved rates. M Turner, Wivenhoe Pocket, sold yearling heifers for 154.2c/kg weighing 192.5kg to return $296 a head. Yearling steers account J and P West, Grandchester, sold for 150.2c/kg, weighing 160kg to return $240 a head. E Carson sold pasture steers for 172.6c/kg weighing 405kg to return $696 a head. T Wilson, Canungra, sold pasture ox for 175.2c/kg weighing 615kg to return $1077 a head. Grain-assist steers account W and M Clark, Ropeley, sold for 174.2c/kg, weighing 410kg to return $714 a head. M Lavender, Iredale, sold feeder steers for 161.2c/kg weighing 360kg to return $580 a head. G and S Cox, Hattonvale, sold dairy culls for 133.2c/kg weighing 825kg to return $1098 a head. Derek Finch sold medium cows for 134.2c/kg weighing 585kg to return $785 a head. G Belz sold a bull for 160.2c/kg weighing 975kg to return $1561 a head.

Gympie cattle

SULLIVAN Livestock yarded 1103 cattle at its Monday Gympie Cattle Sale, where the market remained firm for all descriptions. Good-quality droughtmaster cross steers 2 years from Garth Jacobson, Tiaro, sold for 169c/kg to return $772 a head. Droughtmaster steers from B and S Portas, Woolooga, sold for 168/kg or $769 a head. Droughtmaster steers 20 months from Warren and Kathy Dakin, Theebine, sold for 166/kg or $757 and $747 a head. Droughtmaster cross steers from the Armstrong Family, Kilkivan, sold for 165/kg or $765 a head. Droughtmaster steers 18 months from Rod Cotter, Widgee, sold for 159/kg or $630 a head. Charbray steers 10 months from Bevan and Beverly Tincknell, Widgee, sold for 171/kg or $492 a head. Charbray steers from Gin Gin sold for 169/kg or $463 a head. Droughtmaster steers from Jason Johnston, Craiglea, Kenilworth, sold for 161/kg or $592 and 170/kg or $474 a head. Droughtmaster cross steers from Fitzgerald and Co, Kilkivan, sold for 161/kg or $361 a head. Generally better-quality weaner steers sold from 142/kg. Limited quality feeder heifers were yarded, selling from 138 to 142/kg. Good-quality Charbray cross heifers 8 months from Gin Gin sold for 152/kg or $458 a head. Droughtmaster cross heifers 10 months from the Roberts Family, Sandy Creek, sold for 14/kg or $454 a head. Good-quality vealer heifers from Stuart and Linda Vollmerhausen, Theebine, sold for 147/kg, 145/kg and 143/kg. Charbray heifers from Rod Janke, Widgee, sold for 148/kg or $422 a head. Overall better-quality vealer heifers sold from 133/kg to 152/kg, while store types sold from 110/kg to 132/kg. Droughtmaster cows with charolais cross calves from Ron Miller, “Durramcourt”, Gunalda, sold for $740 a head. Brangus cows and calves from Lex Kunst sold for $650, while the next run of cows and calves sold from $430 to $620.

Warwick sheep

IN A smaller yarding of lambs, the market was firm for the heavier lambs and a shade cheaper for the light lambs. Agents yarded 1421 lambs and hoggets and 9 sheep at the weekly sale on August 14. SO and JS Free of Hamilton Farm, Clifton, held the top lambs account, selling for $120 to Paynes Meats. Quotations: cross-bred lambs 46-55kg $103-$114, cross-bred lambs 40-45kg $107-$120, cross-bred lambs 38-42kg $81-$92. Cross-bred hoggets 54.3kg $66 (shorn).

Toowoomba pigs

THERE were 205 pigs sold, with all pork and prime bacon selling to dearer prices. Backfatter sows again sold to excellent rates. Also all store and weaner pigs sold to strong competition. Quotations: prime pork 279-295c/kg, prime light bacon 270-304c/kg, prime bacon 265-318c/kg, boars 28c/kg, sows to 172c/kg. Forward stores $128-$138, weaners $68-$97, suckers $45.