A total of 1600 head were yarded at Emerald on December 7 for the second last store and prime sale for 2017. Once again, restockers willing to pay a premium for quality, light store cattle had prices soaring with the top pen of weaner steers making to 411c.
Cows to kill saw a slight rise even though processor competition was limited. In the prime section, bullocks over 550kg topped at 256c to average 243c, heavy steers 500–550kg cannot be quoted on due to insufficient numbers, heavy heifers over 400kg made to 262c to average 250c, heavy cows over 520kg topped at 219c and averaged 217c, 450-520kg cows made to 217c to average 210c, while heavy bulls over 600kg reached 251c to average 231c. In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400–500kg topped at 300c and averaged 282c, trade feeder steers 350-400kg reached 314c and averaged 287c.
Backgrounder steers 280-350kg made to 399c and averaged 328c, weaner steers 200-280kg sold to 411c and averaged 355c, while light steers under 200kg made to 387c and averaged 362c. Feeder heifers 350–400kg reached 281c and averaged 267c, backgrounder heifers 280-350kg topped at 313c to average 282c, while weaner heifers 200-280kg reached 353c to average 313c. A pen of large framed Droughtmaster cross cows with 2–3 month old calves at foot made $1000/unit.
Highlights
Peter and Vicki Howard of the Nogoa Pastoral Company, Duck Ponds, Emerald consigned Santa Gertrudis steers making to 284c to average 417kg returning $1185, David and Leanne Cox, Mt Surprise, Alpha sold Simmental steers reaching 339c to weigh 315kg or $1069. The Stuart family, Dilkera Station, Nebo offered Droughtmaster heifers topping at 328c to weigh 276kg and returning $907, Gavin and Julie Vallis, JoJo, Alpha consigned Braford heifers making to 326c to average 226kg or $737. The Ward family, Jabiru, Emerald sold Euro cross cows topping at 218c weighing 575kg returning $1255.