Buyer uncertainty was suggested as one reason for the price drop experienced at today’s Roma store sale.
Errol Rolfe, Nindinna, Roma, sold two decks of mixed sex weaners and said prices were a little disappointing after the results from previous weeks.
“These prices are back as much as 25c on pre-Christmas sales,” he said.
“It’s a fairly mixed yarding here today and that has quite a bearing on the money.”
Among the higher quality cattle on offer were Mr Rolfe’s 34 Charolais cross steers averaging 328kg and 338c/kg to return $1110/head.
Mr Rolfe also sold 28 Charolais cross heifers at 319kg for an average of 301c/kg to total $960/head.
Mr Rolfe said he would be selling weaners straight from the paddock over coming weeks and hoped optimism would return to bolster the market.
“We’ll be mustering a paddock and selling two decks of weaners from it every week from now on,” he said.
“There are plenty of little things that can affect the strength and consistency of the market, it’s not just the weather.”
Mr Rolfe’s daughter Lee White, Suncorp Roma, said she believed confidence in the cattle market was low.
“I think people are nervous prices have been a little too good and are holding back in case they fall considerably again,” she said.
“With the market fluctuating so frequently it’s often the luck of the draw when you’re selling cattle through the saleyards.”
Despite the lack of promise for record prices, Mr Rolfe said he would continue his selling pattern in the hope the market would rise again to make headlines.
