With record high temperatures in the first weeks of September after a very dry winter, prospects for October and beyond looked ordinary to say the least.
After some very good falls, the seasonal outlook has changed over the past fortnight and has given people on the land a real boost.
We all appreciate that the rain at this stage has been patchy, but in most cases has got the grass away and growing.
Another major frontal system has been forecast for this coming weekend and will really kick things along if it is as strong as predicted.
This week I caught up with Roma Saleyards manager Paul Klar, who told me Roma agents had booked 3502 head for this week’s store sale.
Paul gave me an update on MLA saleyard numbers in Queensland.
The latest Qld cattle saleyard throughput results for the 2016-2017 financial year, totalled 1.4 million head, with Roma Saleyards remaining the largest in the state and indeed the country.
Throughput at Roma equated to 310,535 head, while Dalby maintained its position as the state’s second largest selling centre, totalling 209,094 head.
CQLX Gracemere remained the third largest in terms of volume with 132,034 head being consigned over the financial year. Emerald, ranked fourth, reported a throughput of 90,722 head. Consignments to Blackall totalled 86,437 head, lifting it from seventh last year to fifth this year.
The remainder of the top 10 in 2016/2017 consisted of Dalrymple (Charters Towers) sixth with 74,639, Warwick seventh with 59,021, Winton eighth with 53,590, Gympie ninth with 50,260 head. Toowoomba came in 10th with 47,339 head.
MLA advises that this year’s results exclude the throughput of transit cattle. Cloncurry is one of the largest transit centres in Australia.
Warwick continues to be the largest selling centre for sheep and lambs in the state with throughput for 2016-2017 financial year reaching 117,976 head.
Jake Passfield, Hoch & Wilkinson, Clermont reported a strong sale at Clermont on October 13, with 1100 head of quality cattle penned. Cattle were drawn from Clermont, Capella, Moranbah with two large lines of weaners from Aramac.
Bullocks topped at 260c/kg. Steers, 400-500kg, topped at 277c and averaged 248c, steers 320-400kg reached 289c, while steers 220-320kg made to 380c. Light steers under 220kg made to 388c and heavy cows made to 215c.
Heifers, 300-400kg sold to 270c/kg while heifers 220-300kg topped at 298c. Heifers under 220kg topped at 322c while heavy bulls topped at 255c. Jake said the next sale, the Clermont Beef Expo would be held on Wednesday, October 25.