Prices ease across region
ROMA
CATTLE numbers increased 931 head to 8900 at the Roma Store Sale. Cattle were mainly drawn from the local supply area, with some goodquality local lines yarded. A good panel of buyers was present and operating.
The yarding was dominated by steers and the overall quality was again mixed, with demand remaining strong for the better cattle.
Heavier yearling steers were present in larger numbers and the number of cows yarded also increased.
Medium weight yearling steers to domestic feed eased 4c and medium weight yearling steers to export feed decreased by 2c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers to feed had no change.
Medium weight yearling heifers weighing 200-280kg going to restockers or background eased 26c, while medium weight yearling heifers to domestic feed decreased by 1c/kg.
Medium weight two-score cows eased 20c and the medium weight three-score cows eased 19c/kg.
A good sample of medium weight yearling steers to domestic feed sold to 310.2c to average 304c, while a large sample of medium weight yearling steers to export feed made to 315.2c to average 306c/kg. A good sample of heavy weight yearling steers to feed made to 314.2c to average 307c/kg.
A large sample of medium weight yearling heifers weighing 200-280kg going to restockers or background made to 255c to average 233c/kg. A good sample of medium weight yearling heifers to domestic feed sold to 278.2c to average 262c/kg.
The best of the medium weight grown steers sold to 300.2c to average 291c/kg. A fair sample of grown heifers less than 540kg sold to 256.2c to average 247c/kg.
A good sample of medium weight two-score cows sold to 215.2c to average 199c, while a fair sample of medium weight three-score cows sold to 240c to average 220c/kg.
A large sample of light weight bulls to restockers sold to 294.2c to average 255c/kg.
WARWICK
NUMBERS at Warwick were similar, with a rise in the cow penning and similar numbers of yearlings.
Quality reduced in the young cattle section, with the exception of heavy feeders which remained static for quality and condition. Similarly, the better cows, while cheaper, remained the same for quality.
There were drafts of grain-assisted cattle on offer.
All the regular buyers were present and operating.
Weaner steers to restockers had decreased trends of 19c, while the heifer portion also experienced a decrease of 20c/kg. Restocker and background competition resulted in many of the plainer quality drafts going back to the paddock.
Light yearling steers had a decrease of 19c/kg. Heavy feeder steers showed firm trends, as did the better drafts of trade cattle.
Yearling heifers had decreased trends, with plain-quality cattle experiencing substantial falls.
The best of the grown heifers had an increase of 9c/kg. Light cows sold to decreased trends of 20c, while the medium weight categories experienced a decrease of 17c/kg. Threeand four-score cows had trends decrease by 13c, although an isolated single cow sale reached 251c/kg. Bulls were mostly firm.
TOOWOOMBA
A COMBINATION of the continuing hot, dry conditions and only one more sale at the Toowoomba yards before the Christmas break lifted supply by 239 head to 983.
Very mixed quality young cattle dominated the yarding, along with a fair sample of cows and only a few heavy-grown steers and bullocks.
Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock eased 20c, and up to 30c/kg on poor-condition classes. Medium and heavy weight yearling steers to feed generally sold to a firm market to experience only quality-related price changes.
Light weight yearling heifers to feed or background averaged 10c cheaper, while the lesser-quality lines averaged 20c/kg less. Cows sold to a market 9c to 12c/kg cheaper.
A small number of steer calves made to 325c, while light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock made to 296.2c to average 265c and poor-quality lines mainly sold for about 222c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed made to 312.2c to average 298c/kg. Heavy weight yearling steers more than 400kg to feed made to 329.2c, while a small sample averaged 306c/kg.
The better end of the light weight yearling heifers averaged 237c and made to 255c, as the lesser-quality lines averaged 193c/kg.
The occasional outstanding medium weight B-muscle yearling heifer sold to the trade for 318.2c, while the remainder made close to 286c/kg. A few heavy weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 269c and made to 274.2c, while some to the trade averaged 253c/kg.
A couple of heavy steers to export processors made to 305.2c and a single bullock made to 300.2c/kg. Medium weight two-score cows averaged 199c and the best of the medium weights made to 224.2c/kg.
A small number of good heavy cows made to 238.2c to average 233c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 262.2c/kg.
DALBY
THERE was a relatively small decline in numbers to 7019 head today and overall quality declined. Cattle were drawn from a wide area, with 1485 from far-western Queensland, plus 260 from NSW and 357 from South Australia. Buyer attendance was generally good and most were operating in a cheaper marker.
Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged 17c less and heavy weights to feed eased 4c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 18c cheaper, bullocks averaged 9c less and cows sold to a market 11c to 22c/kg cheaper.
C2 yearling steers to feed weighing 330-440kg sold from 279.2c to 308.2c, averaging 294c, while the same weight C2 yearling heifers to feed made from 246.2c to 268.2c to average 255.5c/kg. C3 grown steers sold from 251.2c to 268c to be 38c cheaper, averaging 259c/kg.
Grown C4 heifers made from 240c to 254.2c, easing 33c while averaging 241.2c/kg. C4 manufacturing steers to feeders made 255.2c. D2 cows received from 175 to 209.2c, averaging 188.9c and coming back 21c/kg. D2 bulls made from 190c to 196.2c to average 192.1c, back 28c, while C3 bulls topped the market with 288.2c/kg.
BIGGENDEN
BURNETT Livestock & Realty held its last meatworks and store sale for 2018 on Monday, December 3. A total of 1799 head were yarded on a very hot day and tougher market. Quality cattle really shone above the plainer types, with quality-related price variations. Cattle were drawn from Theodore, Calliope, Eidsvold, Monto, Mundubbera, Gayndah, Proston, Gympie, Bororen and Maryborough.
Four- and six-tooth grey brahman heifers from Gayndah sold for 278c/kg or $1377. Droughtmaster two- to six-tooth heifers from Mundubbera sold for 278c/kg or $1479. Four-tooth brangus heifers from Gaeta sold for 280c/kg or $1429.
Charolais cows from Theodore sold for 254c/kg or $1957. Grey brahman cows from Gayndah sold for 248c/kg or $1439. Droughtmaster cows from Mundubbera sold for 244c/kg or $1347. Red brahman cows from Brooweena sold for 245c/kg or $1397. Brangus cows from Gaeta sold for 246c/kg or $1440. Droughtmaster cows from Biggenden made 248c/kg or $1191. Droughtmaster cows from Dallarnil sold for 253c/$1493.
Heavy bulls topped at 268c/$2762 at 1030kg.
Milk- and two-tooth charbray steers from Wallaville sold for 310c/$1595. Milk- and two-tooth charbray steers from Hervey Bay sold for 311c/$1497. Milk- and two-tooth charbray steers from Biggenden sold for 305c/$1193.
Milk- and two-tooth droughtmaster steers from Childers sold for 295c/$1243. Milk- and two-tooth angus steers from Mt Perry sold for 302c/$1258. Milk- to four-tooth santa gertrudis steers from Bundaberg sold for 295c/$1253.
Droughtmaster cross weaner steers from Gayndah sold for 330c/$667. Charbray weaner steers from Gaeta sold for 322c/$733. Crossbred weaner steers from Eidsvold sold for 394c/$789. Brangus weaner steers from Gaeta sold for 286c/$621. Charolais-cross weaner steers from Wallaville sold for 290c/$613. Brangus weaner steers from Bauple sold for 296c/$636.
Crossbred heifers from Theodore sold for 256c/$781. Murray greycross heifers from Biggenden sold for 258c/$839. Angus-cross heifers from Bundaberg sold for 246c/$902. Crossbred heifers from Binjour sold for 264c/$898.
Brangus heifers from Mundubbera sold for 256c/$904. Brahman-cross heifers from Gayndah sold for 258c/$811.
Charbray weaner heifers sold for 257c/$524. Simmental-cross weaner heifers from Gayndah sold for 247c/$576. Angus-cross weaner heifers from Mt Perry sold for 244c/$583. Angus-cross weaner heifers from Proston sold for 246c/$527.
Droughtmaster-cross weaner heifers from Gayndah sold for 258c/$482. Brangus weaner heifers from Gaeta sold for 250c/$737.
MURGON
A TOTAL of 950 were yarded in Murgon on Tuesday for the fortnightly liveweight sale. Export cattle were easier across the board. Feeder types remained firm, as did better lines of weaner steers and heifers. The market for lesser-quality lighter steers and heifers was tougher.
Cattle were drawn from Biloela, Mundubbera, Mt Perry Coringa, Gayndah, Yarraman, Nanango, Kingaroy Kilkivan and locally.
Heavy bulls sold to $2.60c/kg and $2336. Bullocks topped at $2.90c/kg for $1730. Cows more than 500kg sold to $2.35c/kg, averaging $2.27c/kg. Cows 400-500kg sold to $2.33c/kg. Lighter cows topped at $2.10c/kg.
Angus steers from Manyung sold to $1452 at $2.92c/kg. Droughtmaster steers from Crownthorpe weighing 401kg sold to $3.09c/kg and $1241. Charolais steers 421kg from Wondai sold for $1223 at $2.9c/kg. Blonde steers 455kg from Kilkivan sold for $2.90c/kg, returning $1294.
Murray grey steers from Stonelands returned $1125 at $2.85c/kg and 395kg. Brahman-cross steers 393kg from Biloela sold for $1104 and $2.83c/kg.
Two pens of drought master cross steers from Merlwood sold for $1104 and $846.
South devon-cross steers 320kg from Nanango sold to $2.80c/kg to return $900. Charbray steers from Tansey weighing 257kg sold to $2.96c/kg and $761.
Local droughtmaster steers sold to $800 at $2.81c/kg. Braford-cross weaner steers from Mt Perry sold for $648 and $2.81c/kg. Light brangus weaner steers from Brigooda sold to $554. Santa heifers 387kg from Goomeri sold to $2.58c/kg and $1000.
Droughtmaster-cross heifers from Mondure weighing 355kg sold to $914 at $2.57c/kg. Droughtmaster heifers 340kg from Goomeri sold for $2.54c/kg, returning $866. Angus heifers 298kg from Yarraman sold for $2.45c/kg, returning $731. Braford heifers 230kg from Mt Perry sold for $579 at $2.50c/kg.
Few cows and calves were yarded, selling to $1000.