Well-known Brisbane ophthalmologist and Blackall grazier, Bill Glasson swapped eye-testing for a morning in the saleyard at Blackall on Thursday, selling four cows and buying 50 steers and heifers in a yarding that was arguably the strongest in the state for fat cattle this week.
Since receiving June rain on Cooper’s Run west of Blackall, Dr Glasson has been on the lookout for suitable animals to put back on his destocked paddocks, and broke the yard record for light store steers, paying 401.2c/kg, or $917.75 for 228.8kg Brangus cross steers from BelleBurra, north of Longreach.
“They were really the pick of the bunch,” he said. “Paying $4 two years ago, people would say I’d have rocks in my head, but we’ll grow them out and should do well.”
They will be added to 128 mixed sex Red Angus cattle purchased from the Charleville area on AuctionsPlus recently, for $650/head.
Dr Glasson said he would normally run 200 breeders at Cooper’s Run but buying cows wasn’t an option at present.
He said there were many more buyers at Blackall than he had expected, given the size of the yarding and freezing weather, showing the huge amount of interest in the market at present.
Agents said a full panel of export buyers were present at the 1460-head fat and store sale, with six different processors operating.
According to the Blackall Livestock Agents Association report, the fat market followed the trends of other eastern Australia markets this week and trended slightly cheaper.
“The Blackall market however was arguably the strongest in the state for fat cattle this week. Local and near-local restockers were active in the market.”
Mr Glasson said he had enough cattle for the present, and he would be letting his country recover more before putting more on.
“The heavy Mitchell grass country hasn’t responded, so we’ve restocked as much as we’re going to for the time being.”
He noted an interesting coincidence at the sale, when his four leftover cows were sold in a pen with Droughtmaster heifers from Taree at Aramac, a property once owned by his brother Doug Glasson.
Brian Davison of Riverview, Blackall sold Charolais feeder steers for 360c/kg, weighing 386 kg to return $1391/head.
B and J Hall of Caiwarra, Julia Creek sold Brahman cows to a top of 268c/kg, weighing 614 kg to return $1648/head.
Mt Enniskillen, Blackall consigned a line of Santa bullocks to top at 306c/kg, weighing 668kg realising $2046, while their heavy cows sold to 266c/kg, weighing 625kg and returning $1663/head.
CA Hauff & Sons, Blackall sold 643kg cows to 264c/kg, returning $1698 and heavy Hereford heifers weighing 484kg, topping at 246c/kg, realising $1192/head.
Chippendale Pastoral Holdings, Blackall sold a good line of Hereford cows to 258c/kg, weighing 603kg and returning $1557, while Ben Avery of Allandale, Blackall sold Santa cows to 258c/kg, weighing 641kg returning $1656/head.
The next Blackall sale will be a weaner and fat sale on Thursday, July 28.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
