Cattle numbers have really shortened up over the major selling centres during the past week after some useful but patchy storm rains. It will be interesting to see how much more of a lift the market will take if further predicted falls occur this coming week.
Toowoomba agents yarded 879 at this week’s sale with values reported as firm to a dearer market with strong restocker interest.
Roma agents booked 3115 cattle for this week’s store sale after a light yarding last week and a good lift of up to 20c/kg across the board.
Dalby agents reported a yarding of 1746 head at last week’s sale. Ryan Dellit, Graham Henderson & Co, Dalby told me the market had improved for all descriptions. He said export grades of heavy steers and bullocks were 20c up on the previous week, with the cow classes that followed averaging 20c better. Medium and heavy weight steers to feed increased 5-10c with the heifer portion lifting up to 15c. Smaller numbers of store cattle were penned in the second round store section with a large panel of restockers present. Ryan said all classes of lightweight young cattle improved by 20c. Some sales to note:
Gwen McMillan, Jondaryan, sold Santa steers 295c for $1963 p/hd.
Wagner family,Granville Park, Jandowae, sold Charbray feeder steers 288c for $1417 p/hd.
Angus cross feeder heifers sold for 265c for $1290 p/hd.
Tim and Tracey Cockerill, Melinga, Jandowae, sold Charolais cross yearling heifers 270c for $1032 p/hd.
Rushbrook family, Yandara, Ducklo, sold Limousin cross yearling steers 290c for $1007 p/hd.
Ryan expected the numbers for this week’s sale to be on the lighter side with some good falls of rain over the Downs and surrounding areas during the past week.
Gracemere agents reported a yarding of 851 at last Friday’s sale. Mick Lynch, Landmark Rockhampton quoted the market for slaughter cattle fully firm to dearer while restocker and feeder cattle lifted for the quality on offer. He predicted another light yarding this week with more rain forecast over the Gracemere drawing area.
Dave Henry, Davidson Cameron at Gunnedah, reported some good falls over the central and north western NSW. He said Walgett to the west had 15-20mm, Carinda 20mm, Coonabarabran only 10mm, Gunnedah 30mm and Manilla to the east of Gunnedah receiving up to 48mm in places. Dave said with forecasts of more rain from Thursday through to the weekend, the season would start to improve. With this rainfall, saleyard numbers were significantly lower, with Tamworth only yarding 1000 this week and Gunnedah expecting the same numbers this week as well.
Dave said that at this week’s Tamworth sale, the restocker and light feeder job was quoted up to 30c/kg dearer with quality restocker steers making up to 330c, heavy feeders to 309c, feeder heifers to 288c. Heavy kill steers sold to 276c with heavy kill heifers to 268c and heavy cows topping at 220c. He said that with the prospect of hopefully more rain, the markets can only keep improving, with everyone questioning, “By how much?” He didn’t think it would get back to the heights seen previously but a rise of any proportion was good for producers.