PRICES for older cattle may have slipped but there is still plenty of sting in the weaner market going by Shepherdson and Boyd’s store sale in Toogoolawah today.
While older steers were making around the 280c/kg live mark, the best weaners were still pulling in more than $1000/head depending on their size and breeding. The general run of weaners was making $800-plus with plenty in the $900 range. Females were also back in price.
Booking at Toogoolawah jumped from 600 head to almost 1400 head on the back of ongoing dry weather across much of the region.
Dick Boyd, Shepherdson and Boyd, said the tough season was seeing increased numbers of cattle being placed on the market.
“We desperately need rain,” Mr Boyd said. “Some people are already in trouble with dams because there just hasn’t been the rain over summer.”
Crows Nest district cattle producer Glen Roosen said he was well pleased with the $1300/head he received for his 18 to 20 month old Charbray steers.
“Prices are back a bit but it is still very good money,” Mr Roosen said.
The steers were bought as weaners at last year’s annual sale.
Sale toppers at $1300 were 20 month old Charbray steers offered by Glen Roosen, Pinelands. Gemseekers International, Dayboro, sold milk tooth Angus-cross steers for $1285. Tim Bourke, Gatton, sold 18 month old Charolais steers for $1060 and $1050. Ron Dunning sold 18 months Droughtmaster-cross steers for $1045 and Limousin-cross steers for $1050. Bevan Kammholz sold Droughtmaster steers 18 months for $960. N&K Green sold 11 months Droughtmaster-cross steers for $925.
G&C Beanland sold 12 months Charolais-cross steers for $950 and $940. Graham and Judith McPhersons Charolais-cross weaner steers sold for $1000, $935 and $850. Stumpy Gilliland sold Charolais-cross steers 30 months for $1105 and $1015. Sean Doneley sold 18 months Santa-cross steers for $1050. Tully and Burns sold Droughtmaster weaner steers for $850. Grieve Brothers sold Charolais-cross young weaners for $760 and $700.
Ko Ko Pastoral Co sold 18 month old Droughtmaster steers for $975. Ivan Wild sold a very good line of Droughtmaster-cross steers 18 months for $1080. Peter and Brenda McGreevy sold 14 months Angus steers for $900.
John Barnes presented a top pen of Charolais-cross weaner steers for $985. The Vedelago Family sold Charolais-cross steer calves for $800. Gerard Frisby and family sold six months Droughtmaster steers for $700. Tim Richards Manumbar sold 6-8 months Charolais-cross steers for $725.
Feeder heifers met solid competition with Santa-cross heifers from Alan Vogler selling for $1130. Fernhill Cattle Co sold Droughtmaster heifers 18 months for $960. Mooru Grazing Co sold Angus-cross heifers 20 months for $1005. G&J Ryan, Linville, sold Charolais-cross heifers 16 months empty for $870 and $805. Quality weaner heifers generally sold in the $750 to $680 range. M&K Ball sold heifers for $765. Graham and Judith McPhersons heifers sold for $705 and $700 and Melissa Thornton’s heifers sold for $760. Stumpy Gilliland sold Charolais-cross milk tooth heifers for $1000. Paul Russell sold Charolais-cross heifers 16 months for $885 and $755.
Silverback Properties sold Belmont-cross cows for $1090. Enks and Zieke sold Charolais-cross store cows for $900. Glensomerset Trust sold Droughtmaster cows and calves for $1180 and aged Charolais-cross cows and calves for $1040. Silverback aged Belmont cows and calves sold to $1140 while Enks and Zieke had Charolais-cross cows with young calves for $1000.
An estimated 5000 head will be yarded at Shepherdson and Boyd’s annual Toogoolawah weaner sale on May 13.