Emerald Saleyards saw one of the largest single vendor consignments of EU accredited cattle in the Saleyards’ history at yesterday’s combined store and prime cattle sale.
Selling agents Michael Maguire and Co sold 711 head of Charbray, Brahman and Brangus cross steers and heifers for Damien and Elisha Parker, Eastmere, Aramac, totaling almost half the 1500 head yarding.
Mr Parker said he was offloading the cattle to save feed for his breeding herd after receiving only a small portion of the rain measured in various parts of central Queensland.
“I was getting sick of them (weather forecasters) saying it’d rain next week, next week,” he said.
“We’ve been hearing it for months and we’ve kept putting it off but it just won’t rain and we need room for the cows.”
Mr Parker said the dry cattle would normally have been fattened on nearby family properties or sold as feed-on cattle but there wasn’t enough feed to “pull them through.”
“We’ve had small falls of 10mm here and there. We’re not as bad as others around us but it’s certainly looking ordinary,” he said.
Mr Parker’s 546 steers topped at 367c/kg to average 358c/kg, weighing 282kg to average $1010/head.
The 165 spayed heifers topped at 326c/kg to average 318c/kg for 295kg and $940/head.
Landmark Emerald branch manager Matt Beard said prices had improved on previous weeks.
“This is a very unique run of quality EU accredited number five cattle in high numbers, so they made what they should have made,” he said.
“The opportunity to buy this number of cattle in half deck lots is extremely attractive for restockers.
“600 head and half a million dollars is pretty difficult for individual buyers to handle alone.”
Mr Parker said the sale of his cattle was largely unavoidable and based on necessity.
“It is what it is- we might as well sell while the money is good.”